diff --git a/python/sdist/amici/de_export.py b/python/sdist/amici/de_export.py
index 05498c30fc..4cc90f2396 100644
--- a/python/sdist/amici/de_export.py
+++ b/python/sdist/amici/de_export.py
@@ -59,9 +59,6 @@
 )
 from .de_model import DEModel
 from .de_model_components import *
-from .import_utils import (
-    strip_pysb,
-)
 from .logging import get_logger, log_execution_time, set_log_level
 from .sympy_utils import (
     _custom_pow_eval_derivative,
@@ -323,7 +320,7 @@ def _generate_c_code(self) -> None:
             CXX_MAIN_TEMPLATE_FILE, os.path.join(self.model_path, "main.cpp")
         )
 
-    def _get_index(self, name: str) -> dict[sp.Symbol, int]:
+    def _get_index(self, name: str) -> dict[str, int]:
         """
         Compute indices for a symbolic array.
         :param name:
@@ -339,10 +336,7 @@ def _get_index(self, name: str) -> dict[sp.Symbol, int]:
         else:
             raise ValueError(f"Unknown symbolic array: {name}")
 
-        return {
-            strip_pysb(symbol).name: index
-            for index, symbol in enumerate(symbols)
-        }
+        return {symbol.name: index for index, symbol in enumerate(symbols)}
 
     def _write_index_files(self, name: str) -> None:
         """
@@ -369,9 +363,9 @@ def _write_index_files(self, name: str) -> None:
 
         lines = []
         for index, symbol in enumerate(symbols):
-            symbol_name = strip_pysb(symbol)
             if symbol.is_zero:
                 continue
+            symbol_name = symbol.name
             if str(symbol_name) == "":
                 raise ValueError(f'{name} contains a symbol called ""')
             lines.append(f"#define {symbol_name} {name}[{index}]")
diff --git a/python/sdist/amici/import_utils.py b/python/sdist/amici/import_utils.py
index 5e5e6d399c..d6c19bfcaa 100644
--- a/python/sdist/amici/import_utils.py
+++ b/python/sdist/amici/import_utils.py
@@ -860,7 +860,11 @@ def generate_measurement_symbol(observable_id: str | sp.Symbol):
         symbol for the corresponding measurement
     """
     if not isinstance(observable_id, str):
-        observable_id = strip_pysb(observable_id)
+        observable_id = (
+            observable_id.name
+            if isinstance(observable_id, sp.Symbol)
+            else observable_id
+        )
     return symbol_with_assumptions(f"m{observable_id}")
 
 
@@ -875,7 +879,11 @@ def generate_regularization_symbol(observable_id: str | sp.Symbol):
         symbol for the corresponding regularization
     """
     if not isinstance(observable_id, str):
-        observable_id = strip_pysb(observable_id)
+        observable_id = (
+            observable_id.name
+            if isinstance(observable_id, sp.Symbol)
+            else observable_id
+        )
     return symbol_with_assumptions(f"r{observable_id}")
 
 
@@ -913,26 +921,6 @@ def symbol_with_assumptions(name: str):
     return sp.Symbol(name, real=True)
 
 
-def strip_pysb(symbol: sp.Basic) -> sp.Basic:
-    """
-    Strips pysb info from a :class:`pysb.Component` object
-
-    :param symbol:
-        symbolic expression
-
-    :return:
-        stripped expression
-    """
-    # strip pysb type and transform into a flat sympy.Symbol.
-    # this ensures that the pysb type specific __repr__ is used when converting
-    # to string
-    if pysb and isinstance(symbol, pysb.Component):
-        return sp.Symbol(symbol.name, real=True)
-    else:
-        # in this case we will use sympy specific transform anyways
-        return symbol
-
-
 def unique_preserve_order(seq: Sequence) -> list:
     """Return a list of unique elements in Sequence, keeping only the first
     occurrence of each element
diff --git a/python/sdist/amici/jax/ode_export.py b/python/sdist/amici/jax/ode_export.py
index fa8fa259d6..f1533a0aab 100644
--- a/python/sdist/amici/jax/ode_export.py
+++ b/python/sdist/amici/jax/ode_export.py
@@ -24,9 +24,6 @@
 from amici._codegen.template import apply_template
 from amici.de_export import is_valid_identifier
 from amici.de_model import DEModel
-from amici.import_utils import (
-    strip_pysb,
-)
 from amici.jax.jaxcodeprinter import AmiciJaxCodePrinter, _jnp_array_str
 from amici.jax.model import JAXModel
 from amici.jax.nn import generate_equinox
@@ -45,7 +42,7 @@ def _jax_variable_assignments(
 ) -> dict:
     return {
         f"{sym_name.upper()}_SYMS": "".join(
-            str(strip_pysb(s)) + ", " for s in model.sym(sym_name)
+            f"{s.name}, " for s in model.sym(sym_name)
         )
         if model.sym(sym_name)
         else "_"
@@ -63,7 +60,7 @@ def _jax_variable_equations(
     return {
         f"{eq_name.upper()}_EQ": "\n".join(
             code_printer._get_sym_lines(
-                (str(strip_pysb(s)) for s in model.sym(eq_name)),
+                (s.name for s in model.sym(eq_name)),
                 model.eq(eq_name).subs(subs),
                 indent,
             )
@@ -78,7 +75,7 @@ def _jax_return_variables(
 ) -> dict:
     return {
         f"{eq_name.upper()}_RET": _jnp_array_str(
-            strip_pysb(s) for s in model.sym(eq_name)
+            s.name for s in model.sym(eq_name)
         )
         if model.sym(eq_name)
         else "jnp.array([])"
@@ -89,7 +86,7 @@ def _jax_return_variables(
 def _jax_variable_ids(model: DEModel, sym_names: tuple[str, ...]) -> dict:
     return {
         f"{sym_name.upper()}_IDS": "".join(
-            f'"{strip_pysb(s)}", ' for s in model.sym(sym_name)
+            f'"{s.name}", ' for s in model.sym(sym_name)
         )
         if model.sym(sym_name)
         else "tuple()"
diff --git a/python/sdist/amici/petab/pysb_import.py b/python/sdist/amici/petab/pysb_import.py
index 6ae3fcb15c..806198439b 100644
--- a/python/sdist/amici/petab/pysb_import.py
+++ b/python/sdist/amici/petab/pysb_import.py
@@ -22,7 +22,6 @@
 
 from amici import MeasurementChannel
 
-from ..import_utils import strip_pysb
 from ..logging import get_logger, log_execution_time, set_log_level
 from . import PREEQ_INDICATOR_ID
 from .import_helpers import (
@@ -78,7 +77,9 @@ def _add_observation_model(
 
             # update forum
             if jax and changed_formula:
-                obs_df.at[ir, col] = str(strip_pysb(sym))
+                obs_df.at[ir, col] = (
+                    sym.name if isinstance(sym, sp.Symbol) else str(sym)
+                )
 
     # add observables and sigmas to pysb model
     for observable_id, observable_formula, noise_formula in zip(