DI (Desirability Index)

1. Description

DI provides a similar framework to CUI in assessing BR balance of drugs under development when measured over a range of doses or time. It is defined over (0,1) range and is calculated as . DI originates from the industrial quality management field.

2. Evaluation

2.1 Principle

• The desirability index is derived from specific desirability functions.

• IIts statistical distributions have been studied.

• The derivation of the index requires more extensive knowledge and understanding of mathematical concepts.

• Its framework follows that of CUI:

  exposure-response analysis of benefits and risks endpoints;

  definition of criteria to define clinically meaningful changes;

  selection of important attributes and definition of relative weights;

  sensitivity analysis and measurement of uncertainty.

2.2 Features

• DI accommodates and integrates benefits and risks criteria.

• When a criterion is totally unacceptable (valued as zero), the index becomes totally undesirable (also valued as zero expected utility).

2.3 Visualisation

The visualisations associated with DI are:

2.4 Assessability and accessibility

• The parameters and results are acceptable given the choice of the utility functions is acceptable.

• DI is interpreted as the multiples of benefits per unit risk (the desirability index)

• Desirability surface (3D surface plot)

• Equi-desirability contours (Contour plot)

3. References

[1] Renard D, Wu K, Wada R, Flesch G. Using desirability indices for decision making in drug development. Population Approach Group Europe (PAGE); 2009 Jun 23; St. Petersburg, Russia.: Novartis Pharma AG, Basel, Switzerland; 2009.