A literature review on off-label drug use in children

The development of the Belgian paediatric clinical trial network

Paediatric clinical trials are critical to ensure that medications prescribed to children are safe and effective. However, evidence-based dosing and labelling of such medications remain limited, and most clinical trials in paediatrics fail. Factors for lack of trial completion include performance at site level (limited patient recruitment, limited site staff experience and lack of infrastructure), the sponsor team (limited paediatric specific expertise in design, uncertainties on robustness of biomarkers or outcome variables) as well as regulatory and administrative burdens. As a result of the growing demand for site support, the Belgian Paediatric Clinical Research Network (BPCRN) established in 2009 has been relaunched in 2018 to improve paediatric clinical trials, with the support of innovative-medicines-initiative 2 (IMI2) pan-European network conect4children (c4c) and the transatlantic network I-ACT for Children (US).This paper highlights the formation of the BPCRN and the practical insights it offers for advancing paediatric clinical trials through national networks. A national network can improve trial quality, safety and efficiency, provide clinical research expertise, identify suitable sites, and help with troubleshooting of common trial issues. The BPCRN's centralized approach has advanced paediatric clinical trials by streamlining communication and standardizing trial conduct. Challenges and opportunities have arisen, including a relaunch in 2018, orphan medicine trials, and network sustainability. Collaboration between network activities, government support, site-level improvements, efficient communication, and interaction with industry are key to achieve lasting transformation in paediatric medicine research.

Optimizing therapeutic decision-making for off-label medicines use: A scoping review and consensus recommendations for improving practice and research. Pharmacoepidemiol Drug Saf 2023;32:1200-1222. [PMID: 37208845 PMCID: PMC10543391 DOI: 10.1002/pds.5640] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0]

PURPOSE

Off-label medicines use is a common and sometimes necessary practice in many populations, with important clinical, ethical and financial consequences, including potential unintended harm or lack of effectiveness. No internationally recognized guidelines exist to aid decision-makers in applying research evidence to inform off-label medicines use. We aimed to critically evaluate current evidence informing decision-making for off-label use and to develop consensus recommendations to improve future practice and research.

METHODS

We conducted a scoping review to summarize the literature on available off-label use guidance, including types, extent and scientific rigor of evidence incorporated. Findings informed the development of consensus recommendations by an international multidisciplinary Expert Panel using a modified Delphi process. Our target audience includes clinicians, patients and caregivers, researchers, regulators, sponsors, health technology assessment bodies, payers and policy makers.

RESULTS

We found 31 published guidance documents on therapeutic decision-making for off-label use. Of 20 guidances with general recommendations, only 35% detailed the types and quality of evidence needed and the processes for its evaluation to reach sound, ethical decisions about appropriate use. There was no globally recognized guidance. To optimize future therapeutic decision-making, we recommend: (1) seeking rigorous scientific evidence; (2) utilizing diverse expertise in evidence evaluation and synthesis; (3) using rigorous processes to formulate recommendations for appropriate use; (4) linking off-label use with timely conduct of clinically meaningful research (including real-world evidence) to address knowledge gaps quickly; and (5) fostering partnerships between clinical decision-makers, researchers, regulators, policy makers, and sponsors to facilitate cohesive implementation and evaluation of these recommendations.

CONCLUSIONS

We provide comprehensive consensus recommendations to optimize therapeutic decision-making for off-label medicines use and concurrently drive clinically relevant research. Successful implementation requires appropriate funding and infrastructure support to engage necessary stakeholders and foster relevant partnerships, representing significant challenges that policy makers must urgently address.

Prescription of off-label and unlicensed medication for newborns hospitalized in the Intensive Care Unit

OBJECTIVE

To analyze the prevalence of off-label and unlicensed prescriptions for a population of neonates admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit in a hospital in southern Santa Catarina.

METHODS

Observational study with a cross-sectional design. All neonates admitted to the Intensive Care Unit during the period from March 2020 to March 2021 were included. Data collection was performed through a questionnaire made by the authors and the classification of drugs based on the Electronic Drug Description (Bulário Eletrônico) of the Brazilian Health Regulatory Agency and Drug Dex-Micromedex.

RESULTS

Data from 296 neonates were evaluated. The prevalence was 50,7% for prescribing off-label medications and 37,2% for unlicensed medications. The use of drugs was higher in preterm neonates, with low birth weight, 1st minute Apgar between 6-8, 5th minute Apgar between 7-8, and in need of invasive procedures. The most used off-label drugs were ampicillin, gentamicin and fentanyl (92.6, 92.0 and 26.6%, respectively), whereas the most used unlicensed drugs were caffeine, phenobarbital and bromopride (78.1, 16.3 and 10.9%, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

This study showed a large percentage of prescriptions made in the off-label (50.7%) and unlicensed (37.2%) form in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, corroborating the worrying world scenario. The most exposed neonates were precisely the most vulnerable ones and, among the most commonly prescribed medications, ampicillin and gentamicin stood out in off-label form and caffeine in unlicensed form.

Small patients, big challenges: navigating pediatric drug manipulations to prevent medication errors - a comprehensive review

INTRODUCTION

Medication errors during drug manipulations in pediatric care pose significant challenges to patient safety and optimal medication management. Epidemiological studies have revealed a high prevalenceof medication errors throughout the medication process. Due to the lack of age-appropriate dosage forms, medication manipulation is common in pediatric drug administration. The consequences of these manipulations on drug efficacy and safety could be devastating, highlighting the need for evidence-based guidelines and standardized compounding practices.

AREAS COVERED

This review focuses on examining medication errors in pediatric care and delving into the manipulation of medicinal products.

EXPERT OPINION

The observed prevalence of medication errors and manipulations underscores the importance of addressing these issues to enhance patient safety and improve medication outcomes in pediatric care. Overall, the development of age-appropriate formulations and the dissemination of comprehensive clinical guidelines are essential steps toward improving medication safety and minimizing manipulations in pediatric healthcare settings.

The Use of Psychotropic Medication in Pediatric Oncology for Acute Psychological and Psychiatric Problems: Balancing Risks and Benefits

Severe acute behavioral and emotional problems represent one of the most serious treatment-related adverse effects for children and adolescents who have cancer. The critical and severe nature of these symptoms often makes necessary the use of psychotropic drugs. A working group composed of experts in multiple disciplines had the task of creating an agreement regarding a management plan for severe acute behavioral and emotional problems (SABEPs) in children and adolescents treated for cancer. To obtain global information on the use of psychotropic drugs in pediatric oncology, the working group first developed and mailed a 15-item questionnaire to many Italian pediatric oncology centers. Overall, an evident lack of knowledge and education regarding the use of psychotropic medications for the treatment of SABEPs was found. Thus, by referring to an adapted version of the Delphi method of consensus and standard methods for the elaboration of clinical questions (PICOs), the working group elaborated evidence-based recommendations for psychotropic drugs in the pediatric oncology setting. Furthermore, based on a thorough multivariate analysis of needs and difficulties, a comprehensive management flow was developed to optimize therapeutic interventions, which allows more accurate and efficient matching of the acute needs of patients while guiding treatment options.

New Information on Old Medicinal Products: A Cross-Sectional Analysis of Guidance for Paediatric Use for Substances on the European Priority List of Off-Patent Medicinal Products

BACKGROUND

As part of the European Paediatric Regulation, the European Medicines Agency (former European Medicines Evaluation Agency) and the Paediatric Working Party (precursor for the Paediatric Committee) revised a priority list for studies on off-patent medicinal products in 2007 where a need for studies on paediatric medicinal products was emphasised.

OBJECTIVES

We aimed to evaluate the status of guidance for paediatric use in the Summary of Product Characteristics for medicinal products on the priority list as well as the presence and status of Paediatric Investigation Plans for these medicinal products.

METHODS

We included active pharmaceutical ingredients on the priority list authorised through the centralised procedure and/or marketed in Denmark. The status of guidance for paediatric use (indication, posology and/or contraindication) was reviewed from the most recent Summary of Product Characteristics uploaded on the European Medicines Agency or the Danish Medicines Agency website as of November 2020. Information on Paediatric Investigation Plans status (Paediatric Committee opinion, completion and waivers granted) was retrieved from the European Medicines Agency website.

RESULTS

A total of 121 active pharmaceutical ingredients were included in this study. Seventy-one percent had guidance for paediatric use in the Summary of Product Characteristics for at least one paediatric subpopulation, more often concerning adolescents (70%) and children (70%) as compared with neonates (41%) and infants (49%). The guidance included a paediatric indication in 46% of the cases, but less often a contraindication (13%). Thirty-three active pharmaceutical ingredients had an agreed Paediatric Investigation Plan, six of these were completed.

CONCLUSIONS

Most active pharmaceutical ingredients from the priority list had guidance for paediatric use in the Summary of Product Characteristics. However, there is still an unmet need in relation to guidance for use for the youngest paediatric subpopulation.

Drug pharmacokinetics in the obese population: challenging common assumptions on predictors of obesity-related parameter changes

INTRODUCTION

Obesity is associated with many physiological changes. We review available evidence regarding five commonly accepted assumptions to a priori predict the impact of obesity on drug pharmacokinetics (PK).

AREAS COVERED

The investigated assumptions are: 1) lean body weight is the preferred descriptor of clearance and dose adjustments; 2) volume of distribution increases for lipophilic, but not for hydrophilic drugs; 3) CYP-3A4 activity is suppressed and UGT activity is increased, implying decreased and increased dose requirements for substrates of these enzyme systems, respectively; 4) glomerular filtration rate is enhanced, necessitating higher doses for drugs cleared through glomerular filtration; 5) drug dosing information from obese adults can be extrapolated to obese adolescents.

EXPERT OPINION

Available literature contradicts, or at least limits the generalizability, of all five assumptions. Clinical studies should focus on quantifying the impact of duration and severity of obesity on drug PK in adults and adolescents, and also include oral bioavailability and pharmacodynamics in these studies. Physiologically-based PK approaches can be used to predict PK changes for individual drugs, but can also be used to define in general terms based on patient characteristics and drug properties, when certain assumptions can or cannot be expected to be systematically accurate.

Potential deleterious effects of paracetamol dose regime used in Nigeria versus that of the United States of America

Paracetamol, also known as acetaminophen (N-acetyl-para-aminophenol, APAP) is the world's most used over-the-counter analgesic-antipyretic drug. Despite its good safety profile, acetaminophen can cause severe hepatotoxicity in overdose, and poisoning from paracetamol has become a major public health concern. Paracetamol is now the major cause of acute liver failure in the United States and Europe. This systematic review aims at examining the likelihood of paracetamol use in Nigeria causing more liver toxicity vis-à-vis the reduced maximum recommended daily adult dose of 3 g for the 500 mg tablet. Online searches were conducted in the databases of PubMed, Google Scholar and MEDLINE for publications using terms like "paracetamol toxicity," "acetaminophen and liver toxicity," "paracetamol and liver diseases in Nigeria," and other variants. Further search of related references in PubMed was carried out, and synthesis of all studies included in this review finalized. There were 94 studies that met the inclusion criteria. Evaluation of hepatic disorder was predicated mostly on a constellation of clinical features and limited clinical laboratory investigations. Determination of blood paracetamol concentration was rarely reported, thus excluding paracetamol poisoning as one of the likely causes of liver disorders in Nigeria. In Nigeria and elsewhere, several factors are known to increase paracetamol's predisposition to liver injury. They include: the over-the-counter status of paracetamol, use of fixed-dose combinations of paracetamol with other drugs, malnutrition, dose miscalculations, and chronic alcohol consumption. The tendency to exceed the new paracetamol maximum daily dose of 3 g in Nigeria may increase its risk for hepatotoxicity than observed in the United States of America known for emphasizing lower dose of the drug. In addition to recommending the new maximal daily paracetamol dose allowance, the historical maximum daily adult dose of 4 g should be de-emphasized in Nigeria.

Guidance for pediatric use in prescription information for novel medicinal products in the EU and the US

Pediatric legislations in the European Union (EU) and the United States (US) have increased medicines approved for use in the pediatric population. Despite many similarities between these frameworks, the EU Paediatric Regulation more often provides regulators with a mandate to require pediatric drug development for novel medicinal products compared to US regulators. If used, this could give rise to differences in the guidance for pediatric use provided for clinicians in the two regions. However, the level of discordance in the guidance for pediatric use between the two regions is unknown. This cross-sectional study compares guidance for pediatric use in the EU Summary of Product Characteristics (SmPC) and the US Prescription Information (USPI) on the level of indications granted for novel medicinal products approved after the pediatric legislations came in to force in both regions. For all indications granted as of March 2020 for novel medicinal products approved in both regions between 2010 and 2018, we compared the guidance for pediatric use in the EU SmPC and the USPI. The guidance for pediatric use differed for 18% (61/348) of the listed indications covering 21% (45/217) of the products, but without the guidance being contradictory. Where guidance differed, an equal share was observed for indications with a higher level of information for pediatric use in one region over the other (49% (30/61) in the US; 51% (31/61) in the EU). The discrepancies in pediatric information could be explained by differences in regulations for 21% (13/61) of the indications. Only a few conditions and diseases (EU n = 4; US n = 1) were observed to cover potential pediatric use outside the approved adult indication. Although the EU Paediatric Regulation more often provides regulators a mandate for requiring pediatric drug development as compared to the US PREA, this was not reflected in the prescription information approved by the two regulatory authorities.

Use of off-label compounded oral sildenafil in the management of persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn: A case report

We report a case of a newborn with persistent pulmonary hypertension (PPHN) due to meconium aspiration syndrome with associated lung collapse. Echocardiogram revealed features of persistent pulmonary hypertension. He was treated with compounded oral sildenafil. Oral sildenafil has proven to be effective and safe in the management of PPHN in neonates with persistent pulmonary hypertension. Therefore, in situations where inhaled nitric oxide is not available it may be used as an alternative therapy in PPHN. Further randomized controlled studies are needed to determine its efficacy and pharmacokinetics.

Pharmacogenomics in Children

Historically genetics has not been considered when prescribing drugs for children. However, it is clear that genetics are not only an important determinant of disease in children but also of drug response for many important drugs that are core agents used in the therapy of common problems in children. Advances in therapy and in the ethical construct of children's research have made pharmacogenomic assessment for children much easier to pursue. It is likely that pharmacogenomics will become part of the therapeutic decision-making process for children, notably in areas such as childhood cancer where weighing benefits and risks of therapy is crucial.

Development of the Swiss Database for dosing medicinal products in pediatrics

In daily paediatrics, drugs are commonly used off-label, as they are not approved for children. Approval is lacking because the required clinical studies were limited to adults in the past. Without clinical studies, evidence-based recommendations for drug use in children are limited. Information on off-label drug dosing in children can be found in different handbooks, databases and scientific publications but the dosing recommendations can differ considerably. To improve safety and efficacy of drugs prescribed to children and to assist the prescribers, stakeholders in Swiss paediatrics started a pilot project, supported by the Federal Office of Public Health, with the aim to create a database, providing healthcare professionals with so called "harmonised" dosage recommendations based on the latest available scientific evidence and best clinical practice. A standardised process for dosage harmonisation between paediatric experts was defined, guided and documented in an electronic tool, developed for this purpose. As proof of principle, a total of 102 dosage recommendations for 30 different drugs have been nationally harmonised in the pilot phase considering the current scientific literature and the approval of the most experienced national experts in the field.Conclusion: This approach paved the way for unified national dosage recommendations for children. Reaching the project's milestones fulfilled the prerequisites for funding and starting regular operation of SwissPedDose in 2018. Since then, the database was extended with recommendations for 100 additional drugs. What is Known: • Prescribing off-label is a common practice among paediatricians, as many drugs are still not authorised for use in children. • Some countries developed national drug formularies providing off-label dosage recommendations. What is New: • Comparison of published dosage recommendations in known drug handbooks and online databases show substantial differences and heterogeneity, revealing the need for harmonisation. • The design of a tool for standardised harmonisation of dosage recommendations, based on information collected on currently applied dosages, latest scientific evidence and the approval of experts.

Paediatric outpatient prescriptions in France between 2010 and 2019: A nationwide population-based study: Paediatric outpatient prescriptions in France, 2010 to 2019

Background

Paediatric outpatient prescription (POP) monitoring is pivotal to identify inadequate prescriptions and optimize drug use. We aimed at describing recent trends in POPs in France.

Methods

All reimbursed dispensations of outpatient prescribed drugs (excluding vaccines) were prospectively collected for the paediatric population (<18 years old) in the French national health database in 2010-2011 and 2018-2019 (mean 117,356,938/year). POP prevalence (proportion of children receiving ≥1 drug prescriptions/year) was calculated by age groups and compared by prevalence rate ratios (PRRs). Given the large sample size, 95% confidence intervals of POP prevalences and PRRs did not differ from estimates.

Findings

Among the 14,510,023 children resident in France in 2018-2019, mean POP prevalence was 857‰ children. Most prescribed therapeutic classes were analgesics (643‰), antibiotics (405‰), nasal corticosteroids (328‰), nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) (244‰), antihistamines (246‰) and systemic corticosteroids (210‰). POPs decreased with age from 976‰ for infants to 782‰ for adolescents. Children <6 years old were notably more exposed to inhaled corticosteroids (PRR=3.06), non-penicillin beta-lactam antibacterial agents (PRR=3.05) and systemic corticosteroids (PRR=2.11) than older ones. The POP prevalence was slightly higher (PRR=1.04) during 2018-2019 than 2010-2011, with marked increases for anti-emetics (PRR=1.84), vitamin D (PRR=1.49), proton pump inhibitors (PRR=1.42), systemic contraceptives (PRR=1.24) and nasal corticosteroids (PRR=1.21) and decreases for propulsive/prokinetic agents (PRR=0.09), NSAIDs (PRR=0.73) and systemic antibiotics (PRR=0.88).

Interpretation

POP remained highly prevalent in France throughout the 2010s, especially for children <6 years old, with only a few improvements for selected therapeutic classes. These findings should prompt clinical guidance campaigns and/or regulatory policies.

Funding

Internal funding.

French pediatricians' views on industry-sponsored clinical trials: Toward stronger research on ethics?

INTRODUCTION

There is a crucial need to perform clinical trials in pediatrics due to an increased prescription rate of unapproved drugs. Since pediatricians are the gatekeepers of clinical trials, the primary objective of the current study was to evaluate, for the first time in France, pediatricians' views on performing clinical trials. The second objective was to identify the factors that influence their perceptions.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

In 2017, pediatricians who were members of the French Pediatric Society completed an online survey comprising 27 questions. Fisher's exact test was performed to evaluate possible correlations between pediatrician characteristics (age, sex, parenthood, professional experience, status, type of practice, previous participation in clinical trials, ethics education) and personal views on clinical trials. A value of P≤0.001 was considered statistically significant.

RESULTS

Overall, 207 pediatricians completed the questionnaire. Almost all participants (96.6%) were in favor of performing clinical trials. Pediatricians with teaching experience at university hospitals were more reluctant to propose children's participation in clinical trials for fear of increasing parental stress (P<0.001), or the occurrence of serious adverse reactions (P<0.001). Pediatricians with coordinator or investigator experience considered that one of the ethical drifts in pediatric clinical trials is the risk of child exploitation (P<0.001).

CONCLUSION

Our findings suggest a favorable position of pediatricians concerning clinical trials, despite numerous concerns. Another outcome is the need to create an educational system of research in ethics in France dedicated to pediatricians in order to guarantee good clinical practice in research.

Risk and Benefit for Targeted Therapy Agents in Pediatric Phase II Trials in Oncology: A Systematic Review with a Meta-Analysis

BACKGROUND

For research with human participants to be ethical, risk must be in a favorable balance with potential benefits. Little is known about the risk/benefit ratio for pediatric cancer phase II trials testing targeted therapies.

OBJECTIVE

Our aim was to conduct a systematic review of preliminary efficacy and safety profiles of phase II targeted therapy clinical trials in pediatric oncology.

METHODS

Our protocol was prospectively registered in PROSPERO (CRD42020146491). We searched EMBASE and PubMed for phase II pediatric cancer trials testing targeted agents. We included solid and hematological malignancy studies published between 1 January, 2015 and 27 February, 2020. We measured risk using drug-related grade 3 or higher adverse events, and benefit by response rates. When possible, data were meta-analyzed. All statistical tests were two-sided.

RESULTS

We identified 34 clinical trials (1202 patients) that met our eligibility criteria. The pooled overall response rate was 24.4% (95% confidence interval [CI] 14.5-34.2) and was lower in solid tumors, 6.4% (95% CI 3.2-9.6), compared with hematological malignancies, 55.1% (95% CI 35.9-74.3); p < 0.001. The overall fatal drug-related (grade 5) adverse event rate was 1.6% (95% CI 0.6-2.5), and the average drug-related grade 3/4 adverse event rate per person was 0.66 (95% CI 0.55-0.78).

CONCLUSIONS

We provide an estimate for the risks and benefits of participation in pediatric phase II cancer trials. These data may be used as an empirical basis for informed communication about benefits and burdens in pediatric oncology research.

Aversion to Off-label Prescribing in Clinical Pediatric Weight Management: The Quintessential Double Standard

CONTEXT

Pediatric obesity is now recognized as a chronic disease; yet few treatment options exist besides lifestyle modification therapy and bariatric surgery. We describe the limited availability of United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved antiobesity medications for adolescents and compare this to what is available for adults. We offer a rationale for off-label prescribing to assist with lifestyle modification therapy. We also highlight the need for more pharmacotherapy options and additional research into novel treatments for pediatric obesity.

CASE DESCRIPTION

We describe a patient who is struggling with managing her weight and starting to develop complications of obesity. We offer a framework in which off-label prescribing may be beneficial to patients who have been engaging in lifestyle modification therapy yet fail to see improvement.

CONCLUSION

Lifestyle modification therapy is necessary but often insufficient in stimulating clinically meaningful weight loss when used alone in children and adolescents who struggle with weight management. Until more FDA-approved antiobesity medications are available, pediatricians may be able to help more patients achieve weight reduction goals by familiarizing themselves with the responsible use of off-label medications and implementing these tools to improve clinical outcomes. There is a critical need for more pharmacotherapy options to help pediatric patients in managing their weight and preventing or improving the insidious complications resulting from untreated obesity.

European Federation of Societies for Ultrasound in Medicine and Biology (EFSUMB): An Update on the Pediatric CEUS Registry on Behalf of the "EFSUMB Pediatric CEUS Registry Working Group"

The European Federation of Ultrasound in Medicine and Biology (EFSUMB) created the "EFSUMB Pediatric Registry" (EFSUMB EPR) with the purpose of collecting data regarding the intravenous application of pediatric contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS). The primary aim was to document the current clinical practice and usefulness of the technique and secondarily to assess CEUS safety in children. We issue the preliminary results of this database and examine the overall practice of CEUS in children in Europe.

A Study of Regulatory Challenges of Pediatric Oncology Phase I/II Trial Submissions and Guidance on Protocol Development

The purpose of this study was to identify key deficiencies in pediatric oncology early phase clinical trial protocols in Germany and to provide guidance for efficient trial protocol development. A systematic review of the response letters of German competent authorities (CAs) and Ethics Committees to phase I/II pediatric oncology trial submissions in the period from 2014 to 2019 was performed. Documents were requested from all five Society for Paediatric Oncology and Haematology in Germany (GPOH) phase I/II trial networks plus all nine German Innovative Therapies for Children with Consortium Cancer (ITCC) centers. A blinded dataset containing aggregated data from 33 studies was analyzed for validation. All deficiencies were reviewed, listed, and weighted using a structured matrix according to frequency, category, significance, and feasibility. In total, documents of 17 trials from 6 different sites were collected. Two hundred fifty deficiencies identified by the CAs were identified and categorized into eight categories. "Toxicity and safety" was the most prominent category (27.6%), followed by "Manufacturing and Import" (18%). The majority of deficiencies were categorized as minor and potential measures as easy to address, but an important group of major and difficult to implement deficiencies was also identified. The blinded validation dataset confirmed these findings. The majority of the EC deficiencies could be resolved by changing the wording in the patient-facing documents. In conclusion, this study was able to detect a pattern of key deficiencies. Most of the shortcomings can be anticipated by minor changes in the protocol and increased awareness can prevent time-consuming revisions, withdrawals, or even rejections. A corresponding guideline describing key regulatory aspects is provided.

Association of Adherence to Surfactant Best Practice Uses With Clinical Outcomes Among Neonates in Sweden

IMPORTANCE

While surfactant therapy for respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) in preterm infants has been evaluated in clinical trials, less is known about how surfactant is used outside such a framework.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate registered use, off-label use, and omissions of surfactant treatment by gestational age (GA) and associations with outcomes, mainly among very preterm infants (GA <32 weeks).

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS

This population-based cohort study used registry data for 97 377 infants born in Sweden between 2009 and 2018. Infants did not have malformations and were admitted for neonatal care. Data analysis was conducted from June 2019 to June 2020.

EXPOSURES

Timing and number of surfactant administrations, off-label use, and omission of use. Registered use was defined by drug label (1-3 administrations for RDS). Omissions were defined as surfactant not administered despite mechanical ventilation for RDS.

MAIN OUTCOME AND MEASURES

In-hospital survival, pneumothorax, intraventricular hemorrhage grade 3 to 4, duration of mechanical ventilation, use of postnatal systemic corticosteroids for lung disease, treatment with supplemental oxygen at 28 days' postnatal age and at 36 weeks' postmenstrual age. Odds ratios (ORs) were calculated and adjusted for any prenatal corticosteroid treatment, cesarean delivery, GA, infant sex, Apgar score at 10 minutes, and birth weight z score of less than -2.

RESULTS

In total, 7980 surfactant administrations were given to 5209 infants (2233 [42.9%] girls; 2976 [57.1%] boys): 629 (12.1%) born at full term, 691 (13.3%) at 32 to 36 weeks' GA, 1544 (29.6%) at 28 to 31 weeks' GA, and 2345 (45.0%) at less than 28 weeks' GA. Overall, 977 infants (18.8%) received off-label use. In 1364 of 3508 infants (38.9%) with GA of 22 to 31 weeks, the first administration of surfactant was given more than 2 hours after birth, and this was associated with higher odds of pneumothorax (adjusted OR [aOR], 2.59; 95% CI, 1.76-3.83), intraventricular hemorrhage grades 3 to 4 (aOR, 1.71; 95% CI, 1.23-2.39), receipt of postnatal corticosteroids (aOR, 1.57; 95% CI, 1.22-2.03), and longer duration of assisted ventilation (aOR, 1.34; 95% CI, 1.04-1.72) but also higher survival (aOR, 1.45; 95% CI, 1.10-1.91) than among infants treated within 2 hours of birth. In 146 infants (2.8%), the recommended maximum of 3 surfactant administrations was exceeded but without associated improvements in outcome. Omission of surfactant treatment occurred in 203 of 3551 infants (5.7%) who were receiving mechanical ventilation and was associated with lower survival (aOR, 0.49; 95% CI, 0.30-0.82). In full-term infants, 336 (53.4%) of those receiving surfactant had a diagnosis of meconium aspiration syndrome. Surfactant for meconium aspiration was not associated with improved neonatal outcomes.

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE

In this study, adherence to best practices and labels for surfactant use in newborn infants varied, with important clinical implications for neonatal outcomes.

An International Comparison of the Information in the Regulatory-Approved Drug Labeling and Prescribing Guidelines for Pediatric Depression

Objectives: To determine the differences in information between prescribing guidelines and drug labeling, as well as to compare the approval of psychotropic medicines for major depression in pediatric patients ("pediatric depression") across countries. Methods: The recommendations of The Maudsley Prescribing Guidelines in Psychiatry (MPGP) for the treatment of pediatric depression (<18 years) were compared against the regulatory-approved drug-labeling documents from the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and the United States. The use of medicines outside of their regulatory approval is defined as off-label use, so differences between the drug labeling and MPGP were characterized according to unapproved age, indication, dosage, or route of administration. Information in the drug labeling was also compared across countries. Results: MPGP provides recommendations for 6 medicines for the treatment of pediatric depression, for which, 30 drug labeling were retrieved. Three of 30 drug labeling were consistent with MPGP recommendations (fluoxetine in the United Kingdom, fluoxetine and escitalopram in the United States). Differences in information between MPGP and the drug labeling were identified in 26 of 30 drug labeling analyzed, most often due to age (24/26) followed by indication (2/26). No differences pertaining to dosage or route of administration information were identified. The number of approved psychotropic medicines varied across the studied countries and we found cross-country discrepancies in information in the drug labeling. Conclusion: Significant differences in information exists between MPGP and the drug labeling for psychotropic medicines for pediatric depression, due to unapproved ages or indications. Additionally, approval information in the drug labeling are not consistent across countries. Further research into reasons for variability and impact on practice may be warranted.

"Include me if you can"-reasons for low enrollment of pediatric patients in a psychopharmacological trial

BACKGROUND

Low recruitment in clinical trials is a common and costly problem which undermines medical research. This study aimed to investigate the challenges faced in recruiting children and adolescents with obsessive-compulsive disorder and autism spectrum disorder for a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial and to analyze reasons for non-participation. The trial was part of the EU FP7 project TACTICS (Translational Adolescent and Childhood Therapeutic Interventions in Compulsive Syndromes).

METHODS

Demographic data on pre-screening patients were collected systematically, including documented reasons for non-participation. Findings were grouped according to content, and descriptive statistical analyses of the data were performed.

RESULTS

In total, n = 173 patients were pre-screened for potential participation in the clinical trial. Of these, only five (2.9%) were eventually enrolled. The main reasons for non-inclusion were as follows: failure to meet all inclusion criteria/meeting one or more of the exclusion criteria (n = 73; 42.2%), no interest in the trial or trials in general (n = 40; 23.1%), and not wanting changes to current therapy/medication (n = 14; 8.1%).

CONCLUSIONS

The findings from this study add valuable information to the existing knowledge on reasons for low clinical trial recruitment rates in pediatric psychiatric populations. Low enrollment and high exclusion rates raise the question of whether such selective study populations are representative of clinical patient cohorts. Consequently, the generalizability of the results of such trials may be limited. The present findings will be useful in the development of improved recruitment strategies and may guide future research in establishing the measurement of representativeness to ensure enhanced external validity in psychopharmacological clinical trials in pediatric populations.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

EudraCT 2014-003080-38 . Registered on 14 July 2014.

No Time for Lullabies Tracing down Pharmacological Effects & Uses of H1-Antihistamines in Children Younger than 6 Years

Objectives. To provide a qualitative and a quantitative analysis of H1-antihistamines pharmacological uses pattern among children (<6 years old) and to evaluate the parental-related awareness. Methods. A cross-sectional study was carried out at 5 retail pharmacies in Jordan over 5 months (October/2019-February/2020). Parents who requested any of H1-antihistmine agent for a child (<6 years) were invited to participate. Results. A total of 516 children, most of them were toddlers (1-3) years, received at least 1 H1-antihistamine. More than half of the cases received H1-antihistamine as self-medication (56.3%). Sedating antihistamine agents were the most frequently used among children (<6 years old) (77.9%) among which Chlorpheniramine maleate was the most commonly used agent (62.9%). About half of the children (47.0%) received H1-antihistamine to induce sleep. Whereas, 21.7% and 12.9% received them to manage flu, and allergic rhinitis (AR), respectively. Around 66.6% of the cases were classified as off-label use. Most of the parents (80.5%) were aware of the sedative adverse effects of H1-antihistamines, whereas a fewer number (31.9%) were aware of their cognitive effects. Finally, more than two thirds of parents (79.7%) were unfamiliar with off-label drug use in children. Conclusion. Despite the availability of less-sedating H1-antihistamines with a wide safety and efficacy record, the use of sedating H1-antihistamines remains popular in children.

Paediatric pharmacotherapy and drug regulation: Moving past the therapeutic orphan

The development of specific drug therapy for children was a paradigm-changing event that transformed paediatric medical practice. However, a series of tragedies involving drug treatment for children resulted in a gap developing between drug regulation and practice, with the majority of drugs used in child healthcare being used off-label, rendering children therapeutic orphans. Over the past two decades changes in drug regulation led by the US Food and Drug Administration and followed by the European Union's European Medicines Agency have led to substantial changes in how new drugs with potential use in children are studied and labelled. While these changes have substantially improved labelling for new drugs, there has been much less progress with older drugs. Although the unique challenges of conducting clinical research in children have been addressed by novel clinical trial designs, many of these innovations have not been translated into approaches accepted for the drug approval process. The regulations applying to the need for paediatric studies currently are only applicable in the United States and the European Union, and there is less impetus for paediatric labelling in other jurisdictions. This impacts on a number of issues beyond labelling, including the availability of child-friendly formulations. Finally, the impact of Brexit on paediatric drug studies in the UK remains unclear and is subject to ongoing negotiations between the UK government and the European Union.

Retrospective Review of Pharmacogenetic Testing at an Academic Children's Hospital

There is limited evidence to support pharmacogenetic (PGx) testing in children. We conducted a retrospective review of PGx testing among 452 patients at an academic children's hospital to determine the potential utility of PGx in diseases of childhood and to identify targets for future pediatric pharmacogenetic research. An actionable gene-drug pair associated with the 28 genes tested (Clinical Pharmacogenetics Implementation Consortium (CPIC) level A or B, Pharmacogenomics Knowledge Base (PharmGKB) level 1A or B, or US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommendation and a PharmGKB level) was present in 98.7% of patients. We identified 203 actionable gene-drug-diagnosis groups based on the indications for each actionable drug listed in Lexicomp. Among patients with an actionable gene-drug-diagnosis group, 49.3% had a diagnosis where the drug was a therapeutic option and PGx could be used to guide treatment selection. Among patients with an associated diagnosis, 30.9% had a prescription for the actionable drug allowing PGx guided dosing. Three genes (CYP2C19, CYP2D6, and CYP3A5) accounted for all the gene-drug-diagnosis groups with matching diagnoses and prescriptions. The most common gene-drug-diagnosis groups with matching diagnoses and prescriptions were CYP2C19-citalopram-escitalopram-depression 3.3% of patients tested; CYP2C19-dexlansoprazole-gastritis-esophagitis 3.1%; CYP2C19-omeprazole-gastritis-esophagitis 2.4%; CYP2D6-atomoxetine-attention deficit hyperactivity disorder 2.2%; and CYP2C19-citalopram-escitalopram-obsessive-compulsive disorder 1.5%. PGx could be used to guide selection of current treatment options or medication dosing in almost half (48.7%) of pediatric patients tested. Mood disorders and gastritis/esophagitis are promising targets for future study of PGx testing because of the high prevalence of these diagnoses and associated actionable gene-drug pairs in the pediatric population.

Unlicensed and off-label prescription of drugs to children in primary health care: A systematic review

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate unlicensed and off-label prescription and use of drugs to children in primary health care.

METHODS

This is a systematic review that was written based on Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA). The studies were extracted from the databases: LILACS, PubMed/MEDLINE, and Scopus. Studies in English, Spanish or Portuguese with abstract available regarding the use and prescription of off-label and unlicensed drugs to children aged 0-18 years in primary health care were included. The evaluation of the titles, abstracts and Full-text were performed independently by two reviewers, and the divergences were resolved by a third reviewer.

RESULTS

Six studies were included. The incidence of off-label prescription varied from 29.5% to 51.7% in relation to the total number of drugs prescribed. The prevalence of off-label drugs ranged from 31.7% to 93.5% in relation to the total number of drugs prescribed. It was observed a higher proportion of off-label prescription related to age and dose. For unlicensed drugs, there was a small variation in incidence between 2.4% and 3.9%, relative to the total number of prescriptions, or between 2.4% and 10.0%, relative to the sample size. It was observed a higher proportion of unlicensed prescription related to children under 2 years of age.

CONCLUSIONS

The unlicensed and off-label prescription of drugs is recurring in the pediatric population of primary health care. It is necessary to have better information on these drugs by the regulatory agencies and the pharmaceutical industries for rational use of drugs in children.

Off-Label and Unlicensed Drugs in Pediatric Palliative Care: A Prospective Observational Study

CONTEXT

Off-label and unlicensed use of drugs is a widespread practice in pediatric care because of the lack of specific efficacy and safety data and the absence of formulations adapted to the needs of these individuals. Pediatric patients with a life-limiting illness frequently receive drugs under these conditions, although no studies have established the prevalence of this practice.

OBJECTIVES

To describe the prevalence, indications, and most common uses of off-label and unlicensed drugs in a pediatric palliative care unit (PPCU).

METHODS

A prospective cross-sectional observational study carried out between January and October 2019.

RESULTS

About 85 patients involving 1198 prescriptions were analyzed. A total of 39.6% were off label, and 12.9% were unlicensed. All received at least one off-label drug, with a median of five per patient (interquartile range 3-7), and 81.2% received at least one unlicensed drug. A total of 36.1% of the prescriptions were considered off label because of indication, 33.8% because of dosage, and 26.6% because of age. The main drugs used off label were oral morphine, oral levetiracetam, inhaled albuterol, sublingual ondansetron, oral tizanidine, sublingual fentanyl, and oral diazepam. The main symptoms treated with off-label drugs were dyspnea, pain, and nausea/vomiting.

CONCLUSION

More than half of the prescriptions in this PPCU were off label or unlicensed. Treatment indication was one of the main reasons for off-label use. Administration of compounded preparations was common in patients with a life-limiting illness.

Analysis of Pediatric Drug Approval Lag in Japan

BACKGROUND

Drugs should be made available to all patients in a timely manner regardless of whether they are adults or children. In contrast to the United States (US) and the European Union (EU), no laws mandating pediatric drug development have been established in Japan. The objective of this study was to examine the current status and characteristics of pediatric drug development in Japan using information on the approval lag for pediatric indications between Japan and the EU.

METHODS

Drugs approved for pediatric indications between January 2007 and December 2018 in Japan were studied. The approval lag for pediatric indications between Japan and the EU was calculated and analyzed by approval time and the Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical (ATC) classification. Factors potentially affecting the approval lag, such as orphan drug status, company nationality, and clinical data package, were examined.

RESULTS

The median approval lag for 105 drugs with pediatric indications in both Japan and the EU was 1017 days (Japan was behind). The lag for ATC category B improved significantly after 2011, and for category L after 2015; the medians were less than half a year. The lag for drugs developed globally via multi-regional clinical trials was significantly shorter compared with drugs developed regionally.

CONCLUSION

Global clinical trials are the most effective means of shortening approval lag time in pediatric drug development. Global development is making rapid progress for many adult diseases, thereby creating an environment for proactive participation in global clinical trials even for pediatric drugs. For further improvement, more active drug development for pediatric indication is recommended in tandem with the US and the EU.

Pharmacovigilance of anti-cancer medicines: opportunities and challenges

INTRODUCTION

The foundations of pharmacovigilance are the monitoring of drug safety in real-world medicine, and identification of new adverse effects, unknown at the time of market approval. Cancer patients are prone to adverse drug reactions due to the complexity of the neoplastic disease and its treatment. Pharmacovigilance of anti-cancer medicines is further complicated because patients have comorbidities, as for elderly patients. It is even more challenging when complete safety and risk data for a drug are lacking, as may occur for new molecules or when it comes to drugs for children.

AREAS COVERED

This article introduces the field of pharmacovigilance of anti-cancer drugs, describing the various layers of complexity that make the recognition of adverse drug events in oncology particularly problematic, including the type of medicines, the phenomenon of underreporting and polypharmacy. Finally, it reviews new digital tools to help pharmacovigilance activities in oncology.

EXPERT OPINION

The authors outline some crucial challenges and opportunities that can be useful for pharmacovigilance to keep up with the times and follow the current technological and scientific progress. In addition to the evaluations made by researchers, it will, of course, be necessary to have an equality important concrete response from the institutions and regulatory bodies.

The role of multiparametric ultrasound in the diagnosis of paediatric scrotal pathology

Multiparametric ultrasound (MPUS), combining conventional techniques (greyscale and colour Doppler ultrasound), ultrasound strain elastography, and contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS), has been successfully used in the assessment of adult scrotal pathology. Contrast-enhanced ultrasound can confidently establish testicular tissue vascularity even in the small-volume paediatric testis. Elastography provides further assessment of tissue stiffness, potentially adding useful diagnostic information. In children, ultrasonography is particularly advantageous, being safe, radiation-free and negating the need for sedation or general anaesthesia during the imaging evaluation. In this review article, we aim to familiarise readers with the MPUS scanning protocol used for paediatric scrotal examination and provide an overview of scrotal MPUS features, with particular focus to clinical indications where MPUS may be advantageous over conventional ultrasonography.

Prevalence and Nature of Medication Errors and Preventable Adverse Drug Events in Paediatric and Neonatal Intensive Care Settings: A Systematic Review

INTRODUCTION

Children admitted to paediatric and neonatal intensive care units may be at high risk from medication errors and preventable adverse drug events.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this systematic review was to review empirical studies examining the prevalence and nature of medication errors and preventable adverse drug events in paediatric and neonatal intensive care units.

DATA SOURCES

Seven electronic databases were searched between January 2000 and March 2019.

STUDY SELECTION

Quantitative studies that examined medication errors/preventable adverse drug events using direct observation, medication chart review, or a mixture of methods in children ≤ 18 years of age admitted to paediatric or neonatal intensive care units were included.

DATA EXTRACTION

Data on study design, detection method used, rates and types of medication errors/preventable adverse drug events, and medication classes involved were extracted.

RESULTS

Thirty-five unique studies were identified for inclusion. In paediatric intensive care units, the median rate of medication errors was 14.6 per 100 medication orders (interquartile range 5.7-48.8%, n = 3) and between 6.4 and 9.1 per 1000 patient-days (n = 2). In neonatal intensive care units, medication error rates ranged from 4 to 35.1 per 1000 patient-days (n = 2) and from 5.5 to 77.9 per 100 medication orders (n = 2). In both settings, prescribing and medication administration errors were found to be the most common medication errors, with dosing errors the most frequently reported error subtype. Preventable adverse drug event rates were reported in three paediatric intensive care unit studies as 2.3 per 100 patients (n = 1) and 21-29 per 1000 patient-days (n = 2). In neonatal intensive care units, preventable adverse drug event rates from three studies were 0.86 per 1000 doses (n = 1) and 0.47-14.38 per 1000 patient-days (n = 2). Anti-infective agents were commonly involved with medication errors/preventable adverse drug events in both settings.

CONCLUSIONS

Medication errors occur frequently in critically ill children admitted to paediatric and neonatal intensive care units and may lead to patient harm. Important targets such as dosing errors and anti-infective medications were identified to guide the development of remedial interventions.

Pharmacotherapy in Critically Ill Children: A Retrospective Review of 17,199 Admissions

OBJECTIVES

Despite the ubiquitous role of pharmacotherapy in the care of critically ill children, descriptions of the extent of pharmacotherapy in critical illness are limited. Greater understanding of drug therapy can help identify clinically important associations and assist in the prioritization of efforts to address knowledge gaps. The objectives of this study were to describe the diversity, volume, and patterns of pharmacotherapy in critically ill children.

DESIGN

A retrospective cohort study was performed with patient admissions to the ICU between July 31, 2006, and July 31, 2015.

SETTING

The study took place at a single, free-standing, pediatric, quaternary center.

PATIENTS

Eligible patient admissions were admitted to the ICU for more than 6 hours and received one or more drug administration. There were a total 17,482 patient-admissions and after exclusion of 283 admissions (2%) with no documented enteral or parenteral drug administration, 17,199 eligible admissions were studied.

INTERVENTIONS

None.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

The 17,199 eligible admissions were admitted to the ICU for 2,208,475 hours and received 515 different drugs. The 1,954,171 administrations were 894,709 (45%) enteral administrations, 998,490 (51%) IV injections and 60,972 (3%) infusions. Infusions were administered for 4,476,538 hours. Twelve-thousand two-hundred seventy-three patients (71%) were administered five or more different drugs on 80,943 of patient days (75%). The 10 most commonly administered drugs comprised of 834,441 administrations (43%).

CONCLUSIONS

Drug administration in the ICU is complex, involves many medications, and the potential for drug interaction and reaction is compounded by the volume and diversity of therapies routinely provided in ICU. Further evaluation of polytherapy could be used to improve outcomes and enhance the safety of pharmacotherapy in critically ill children.

Exploratory Findings of Prescribing Unlicensed and Off-Label Medicines Among Children and Neonates

Objective

A cross-sectional study was carried out to evaluate the practice of unlicensed and off-label drug prescribing/dispensing in children and neonates by physicians and clinical pharmacists in the metropolitan city of Karachi.

Methods

The study was conducted for the duration of 5 months – November 2018 to March 2019 – in different clinics and tertiary care hospitals of Karachi, Pakistan. Respondents were interviewed by our researchers using 30 items questionnaire. Descriptive statistics were used to evaluate the answers of respondents to survey items. Pearson correlation and independent sample t-test were employed to recognize the association between the responses of participants and independent variables. P values less than 0.05 were considered statistically significant.

Results

A total of 421 questionnaires were completed by physicians and clinical pharmacists. The mean age of the study participants was 49.5 years. Around 98% of pharmacists and 93.5% of physicians were well conversant with the definition of unlicensed and off-label drugs. Around 68% of physicians and 77% of pharmacists reported that they were more concerned about the efficacy of such drugs as compared to that of licensed medicines in children. The most frequent off-label categories observed in the study were dose (65.21%) and indication (17.52%). A vast majority (>80%) thought that approving new drugs by regulatory authorities will drop the occurrence of medication errors due to incorrect dosing. The British National Formulary (BNF) for children was used as the best reliable source of information among respondents.

Conclusion

The present study highlighted the common practice of unlicensed and off-label drug prescribing in pediatrics; however, respondents showed their concern towards decreasing such practice and are likely to welcome initiatives intended to assure medication safety in children.

Off-label Medications Use in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia: The Views of General Practitioners, Pediatricians, and Other Specialists

Background: Off-label drug prescribing remains a major pediatric health concern worldwide. The lack of studies in this vulnerable population causes many practitioners to prescribe drugs outside their license. This study aims to investigate and compare the current knowledge and views of general practitioners, pediatricians, and other specialists toward off-label pediatric prescribing. Methods: A descriptive, cross-sectional-based study conducted on a random sample of physicians who work in three different hospitals in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia. Results: Data were obtained from three hospitals, comprising a total of 160 practitioners. Overall, more than half of the participated practitioners (54%) were familiar with the definition of off-label prescribing. Thirty percentage of participated practitioners agreed that more than 10% of their prescribed medicines to children were off-labeled. A majority of participants expressed concerns over the efficacy (83%) and safety (92%) of off-label prescribing to children. Importantly, a noticeable proportion of the responders claimed that they sometimes observed an adverse drug reaction (n = 23; 20%) or treatment failure (n = 43; 37%) following off-label prescribing medicines to children. Only 46% participants have always informed the parents or guardian about the off-label prescription of medications to their children. Conclusion: A Large number of physicians are familiar with the concept of off-label prescribing of medicines to children in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia. Safety and efficacy are the main concerns of prescribing such medications. Policies toward improving pediatric clinical research and supporting the safety and efficacy of the drugs should be encouraged.

Pharmaco-epidemiological research on herbal medicinal products in the paediatric population: data from the PhytoVIS study

In paediatrics, clinical study data are limited, especially on herbal medicinal products. To address this gap, 2063 datasets from the paediatric population were evaluated in the PhytoVIS data base. By screening for paediatric data, information on indication, gender, treatment, co-medication and tolerability were evaluated. The majority of patients was treated because of common cold, fever, digestive complaints, skin diseases, sleep disturbances and anxiety. The perceived effect of the therapy was rated in 84% of the patients as very good or good without adverse events. The data shed light on a still neglected field of phyto-pharmacotherapy by giving information on the use of herbal medicines in an unselected cohort of paediatric patients. The results confirm the good clinical effects and safety of herbal medicinal products in this patient population and show that they are widely used in Germany.What is Known:• In Germany, about 85% of children receive one or more herbal medicinal products per year.• Despite international initiatives to promote clinical research in paediatrics, there are still many gaps of knowledge in the use of drugs in paediatrics.What is New:• The PhytoVIS project evaluated 2063 data sets from the paediatric population using herbal medicinal products.• The majority of patients was treated because of common cold, fever, digestive complaints, skin diseases, sleep disturbances and anxiety, and 84% of the patients rated the therapy as very good or good without adverse events.

Trends in Off-Label Drug Use in Ambulatory Settings: 2006-2015

BACKGROUND

Off-label drug use in children is common and potentially harmful. In most previous off-label use research, authors studied hospitalized children, specific drug classes, or non-US settings. We characterized frequencies, trends, and reasons for off-label systemic drug orders for children in ambulatory US settings.

METHODS

Using nationally representative surveys of office-based physicians (National Ambulatory Medical Care Surveys, 2006-2015), we studied off-label orders of systemic drugs for children age <18 based on US Food and Drug Administration-approved labeling for age, weight, and indication. We characterized the top classes and diagnoses with off-label orders and analyzed factors and trends of off-label orders using logistic regression.

RESULTS

Physicians ordered ≥1 off-label systemic drug at 18.5% (95% confidence interval: 17.7%-19.3%) of visits, usually (74.6%) because of unapproved conditions. Off-label ordering was most common proportionally in neonates (83%) and in absolute terms among adolescents (322 orders out of 1000 visits). Off-label ordering was associated with female sex, subspecialists, polypharmacy, and chronic conditions. Rates and reasons for off-label orders varied considerably by age. Relative and absolute rates of off-label orders rose over time. Among common classes, off-label orders for antihistamines and several psychotropics increased over time, whereas off-label orders for several classes of antibiotics were stable or declined.

CONCLUSIONS

US office-based physicians have ordered systemic drugs off label for children at increasing rates, most often for unapproved conditions, despite recent efforts to increase evidence and drug approvals for children. These findings can help inform education, research, and policies around effective, safe use of medications in children.

Current practice and awareness of pediatric off-label drug use in Shanghai, China -a questionnaire-based study

BACKGROUND

Off-label drug use is widespread in pediatric drug treatment, and the implementation of guidelines on this topic remains challenging. The objective of this study was to evaluate current practice and awareness of healthcare professionals towards pediatric off-label drug use, as well as the barriers to guideline implementation among pediatric healthcare professionals in Shanghai, China.

METHODS

A validated questionnaire was issued to representatives of pediatricians, pharmacists, nurses and administrators from hospitals with pediatric qualification in Shanghai.

RESULTS

A total of 679 completed questionnaires from 69 hospitals were included in the analysis. Nearly half (47.9%) of the pediatricians acknowledged that they had prescribed off-label drugs. Most (88.4%) of the pharmacists acknowledged that they had dispensed off-label medicines. The main reason for off-label prescribing was the lack of pediatric dosage information. The most common category of off-label prescribing in children was dosage. Nearly half (42.0%) of the participating hospitals had developed internal protocols for off-label drug use. However, approximately half of the respondents reported that they did not adhere to the guidance and that it had barriers to implementation. Most respondents (84.5%) declared that they were familiar with the term "off-label drug use". However, the awareness rate of the Chinese Expert Consensus of Pediatric Off-Label Drug Use was low (45.7%). More than half (55.4%) of the respondents declared that they did not adhere to the process proposed in the consensus and that barriers existed for its utilization.

CONCLUSIONS

Pediatric off-label drug use is widespread in Shanghai, China, and barriers exist to the implementation of the guideline. A legally recognized national guideline with a broad scope of application for off-label drug use is urgently needed; at the same time, more education and training on off-label drug use should be provided to targeted healthcare professionals.

Off-label Use in Ambulatory Paediatric Clinics in a Central South African Hospital

AIM

The aim of this article was to determine off-label (OL) use in paediatric ambulatory clinics in a South African central hospital.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

OL medicine events were documented in three paediatric clinics (general, highly specialized and dedicated HIV paediatric clinics) at Tygerberg Hospital, South Africa, and analysed according to South African medicine registration information.

RESULTS

There were 2167 medicine events for 658 children. Mean age was 5.6 years (interquartile range 1.8-8.8). There were 123 OL medicine events (6%). Extemporaneous OL use was most common (n = 58, 47%), followed by weight (n = 45, 37%) and lack of paediatric data (n = 38, 31%). Of note was OL use for weight for general paediatrics (n = 32, 78%, p < 0.001), lack of appropriate paediatric data for highly specialized paediatrics (n = 26, 61%, p = 0.004) and extemporaneous use for HIV-infected children (n = 34, 87%, p < 0.001), with significant less OL use for HIV-infected children (p = 0.009).

CONCLUSIONS

Of note is significant extemporaneous OL use in HIV-infected children.

Modulation of Hepatic MRP3/ABCC3 by Xenobiotics and Pathophysiological Conditions: Role in Drug Pharmacokinetics

Liver transporters play an important role in the pharmacokinetics and disposition of pharmaceuticals, environmental contaminants, and endogenous compounds. Among them, the family of ATP-Binding Cassette (ABC) transporters is the most important due to its role in the transport of endo- and xenobiotics. The ABCC sub-family is the largest one, consisting of 13 members that include the cystic fibrosis conductance regulator (CFTR/ABCC7); the sulfonylurea receptors (SUR1/ABCC8 and SUR2/ABCC9) and the multidrug resistanceassociated proteins (MRPs). The MRP-related proteins can collectively confer resistance to natural, synthetic drugs and their conjugated metabolites, including platinum-containing compounds, folate anti-metabolites, nucleoside and nucleotide analogs, among others. MRPs can be also catalogued into "long" (MRP1/ABCC1, -2/C2, -3/C3, -6/C6, and -7/C10) and "short" (MRP4/C4, -5/C5, -8/C11, -9/C12, and -10/C13) categories. While MRP2/ABCC2 is expressed in the canalicular pole of hepatocytes, all others are located in the basolateral membrane. In this review, we summarize information from studies examining the changes in expression and regulation of the basolateral hepatic transporter MPR3/ABCC3 by xenobiotics and during various pathophysiological conditions. We also focus, primarily, on the consequences of such changes in the pharmacokinetic, pharmacodynamic and/or toxicity of different drugs of clinical use transported by MRP3.

POMME: The New Cohort to Evaluate Long-Term Effects After Prenatal Medicine Exposure

INTRODUCTION

The POMME (PrescriptiOn Médicaments Mères Enfants) cohort has been implemented for the evaluation of the long-term consequences of medicine prenatal exposure. It holds anonymous medical information as well as information on medicine and healthcare reimbursement to the children, from the first day of intra-uterine life until childhood.

OBJECTIVE

This article provides a description of the cohort regarding its structure and content and presents an outlook of the studies that could be performed with this new data source.

METHODS

Data sources include (1) the French Health Insurance Database (medicines and medical care prescriptions and reimbursements to children and mothers during pregnancy) and (2) the Mother and Child Protection Centre Database (child health certificates at birth, 9 months of age and 24 months of age). Children born in Haute-Garonne (south-west France), over a period of 1 year (from 1 July to 30 June), are registered in POMME every 5 years. The cohort began on 1 July, 2010.

RESULTS

To date, 8372 children have been recorded in POMME. They have reached 7 years of age now. Among them, 4249 (50.8%) are boys, 286 (3.4%) were from multiple pregnancies and 519 (6.2%) were born prematurely. They were prenatally exposed to 9.8 ± 6.1 medications. After birth, drug exposure was greatest in children aged 0-2 years. Children were mostly exposed to paracetamol, anti-infective agents and respiratory system drugs; 908 (10.8%) children presented with at least two signs of psychomotor development disorders.

CONCLUSIONS

POMME provides an observatory study on drug exposure and medical care use in children. This innovative cohort would make it possible to assess the risk of the long-term consequences of prenatal medicine exposure.

Attitudes, knowledge and views on off-label prescribing in children among healthcare professionals in Malaysia

Background Off-label prescribing in children is associated with several prerequisites such as ensuring sound and scientific evidence and obtaining written consent prior to use of off-label drugs to ensure that protection is provided to patients and healthcare professionals. Adherence to the pre-requisites depends on the attitude, views and knowledge of the pharmacists and doctors involved in this practice. Objective To explore the attitudes, knowledge and views on off-label prescribing in children among hospital-based pharmacists and paediatric doctors. Setting The study was conducted in a 620-bedded general hospital located in the urban area of central Peninsular Malaysia. Method Face to face, semi-structured interviews with 12 pharmacists and 12 paediatric doctors. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed and analysed using constant comparison method. Main outcome measure Themes surrounding hospital-based pharmacists' and paediatric doctors' attitude, knowledge and views on off-label prescribing in children. Results Four themes were derived: knowledge on off-label prescribing in children, views on off-label prescribing in children, attitude towards off-label prescribing in children and guidance on off-label prescribing in children. Conclusion There is a need to increase the knowledge of hospital-based pharmacists and paediatric doctors and address several concerns on off-label prescribing in children. The decision to prescribe or dispense off-label drugs involved collective decision-making mechanisms and guidance is required with regards to offlabel prescribing in children.

Off-label drug prescriptions in French general practice: a cross-sectional study

OBJECTIVES

Off-label drug prescribing is a public health and economic issue. The aim of this study was to describe off-label prescription in general practice in France, in terms of frequency and nature, and to identify its main determining factors.

DESIGN

Multicentre cross-sectional study SETTING: Twenty-three training general practice offices PARTICIPANTS: All the voluntary patients coming for a medical consultation or visited at home over a cumulative period of 5 days per office between November 2015 and January 2016.

METHODS

Eleven interns, acting as observers, collected data. Two reviewers analysed the drugs prescribed by the trainers, in order to identify those prescribed off-label in terms of their indication or the age of the patient. We used a univariate, then a multivariate model, based on hierarchical mixed-effects logistic regression.

RESULTS

Among the 4932 drug prescriptions registered, 911 (18.5%[95% CI17.4% to 19.6%]) were off-label, of which 865 (17.6%) due to the indication of the drug and 58 (1.2%) due to the age of the patient. The prescription never mentioned the off-label use, neither was the patient informed of it, as required by the French law. With the multivariate analysis, variables contributing to off-label prescription were the number of drugs (OR=1.05 for each additional drug), the initiation of new drug therapy (OR=1.26) and the non-specific goal of the prescription (OR=1.43); the age of the patient ≤14 years (OR=1.42); the rural location of the physician's practice (OR=1.38) and the low frequency of the visits of national health insurance representatives (OR=0.93).

CONCLUSION

Almost one out of five drugs prescribed in French general practice was off-label. It seems necessary to better train physicians in clinical pharmacology, to provide them with more effective drug prescription software, to reinforce postmarketing surveillance and to clearly define off-label use by consensus.