ABSTRACT
Simulation in drug development can be classified into three categories dependent on the subject scales: meta-simulation, macro-simulation, and micro-simulation.
Meta-simulation is a Monte Carlo method that concerns the bird’s eye view and its dynamics of the subject field. Meta-simulation in the pharmaceutical industry usually involves more than one independent business entity or company. The granularity of simulation at this meta level is most obvious. Uncertainties in information for building the simulation model are high. Simulation results are quantitative, but the interpretation often leans forward more or less qualitatively. Theoretical approaches such as game theory used in meta-simulation are similar to those used in economics (macroeconomics and microeconomics). Therefore, a brief review of basic concepts of economics and pharmacoeconomics is beneficial.
