Parameter estimation for sigmoid E(max) models in exposure-response relationship

The purpose of this simulation study is to explore the limitation of the population PK/PD analysis using data from a clinical study and to help to construct an appropriate PK/PD design that enable precise and unbiased estimation of both fixed and random PD parameters in PK/PD analysis under different doses and Hill coefficients. Seven escalating doses of virtual drugs with equal potency and efficacy but with five different Hill coefficients were used in simulations of single and multiple dose scenarios with dense sampling design. A total of 70 scenarios with 100 subjects were simulated and estimated 100 times applying 1-compartment PK model and sigmoid E(max) model. The bias and precision of the parameter estimates in each scenario were assessed using relative bias and relative root mean square error. For the single dose scenarios, most PD parameters of sigmoid E(max) model were accurately and precisely estimated when the C(max) was more than 85% of EC(50), except for typical value and inter-individual variability of EC(50) which were poorly estimated at low Hill coefficients. For the multiple dose studies, the parameter estimation performance was not good. This simulation study demonstrated the effect of the relative range of sampled concentrations to EC(50) and sigmoidicity on the parameter estimation performance using dense sampling design.