1
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Chacko IA, Ramachandran G, Sudheesh MS. Unmet technological demands in orodispersible films for age-appropriate paediatric drug delivery. Drug Deliv Transl Res 2024; 14:841-857. [PMID: 37957474 DOI: 10.1007/s13346-023-01451-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/11/2023] [Indexed: 11/15/2023]
Abstract
Age-appropriateness of a formulation is the ability to deliver variable but accurate doses to the paediatric population in a safe and acceptable manner to improve medical adherence and reduce medication errors. Paediatric drug delivery is a challenging area of formulation research due to the existing gap in knowledge. This includes the unknown safety of excipients in the paediatric population, the need for an age-appropriate formulation, the lack of an effective taste-masking method and the lack of paediatric pharmacokinetic data and patient acceptability. It is equally important to establish methods for predicting the biopharmaceutical performance of a paediatric formulation as a function of age. Overcoming the challenges of existing technologies and providing custom-made solutions for the development of age-appropriate formulation is, therefore, a daunting task. Orodispersible films (ODF) are promising as age-appropriate formulations, an unmet need in paediatric drug delivery. New technological improvements in taste masking, improving solubility and rate of dissolution of insoluble drugs, the flexibility of dosing and extemporaneous preparation of these films in a hospital good manufacturing practises (GMP) setup using 3D printing can increase its acceptance among clinicians, patients and caregivers. The current review discusses the problems and possibilities in ODF technology to address the outstanding issues of age-appropriateness, which is the hallmark of patient acceptance and medical adherence in paediatrics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Indhu Annie Chacko
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Amrita School of Pharmacy, AIMS Health Sciences Campus, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, 682041, Ponekkara, Kochi, India
| | - Gayathri Ramachandran
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Amrita School of Pharmacy, AIMS Health Sciences Campus, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, 682041, Ponekkara, Kochi, India
| | - M S Sudheesh
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Amrita School of Pharmacy, AIMS Health Sciences Campus, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, 682041, Ponekkara, Kochi, India.
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2
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Barbieri E, Minotti C, Cavagnis S, Giaquinto C, Cappello B, Penazzato M, Lallemant M. Paediatric medicine issues and gaps from healthcare workers point of view: survey results and a narrative review from the global accelerator for paediatric formulations project. Front Pharmacol 2023; 14:1200848. [PMID: 37529704 PMCID: PMC10390094 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2023.1200848] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2023] [Accepted: 06/29/2023] [Indexed: 08/03/2023] Open
Abstract
The WHO Model List of Essential Medicines for Children (EMLc) has not been systematically revised in the last few years. We conducted a survey addressed to healthcare professionals prescribing, preparing, or administering medicines to children and a narrative review to identify problematic paediatric formulations or missing medicines in all therapeutic fields to inform the review of the EMLc in 2023. A total of 285 physicians (63%), 28 nurses (6%) and 142 pharmacists (31%), mostly working in the hospital setting, reported at least one problematic medicine. 290 medicines were reported as missing (completely or the child-appropriate formulation). The top three most mentioned were ciprofloxacin together with phenobarbital and omeprazole. 387 medicines were reported as problematic (34% were oral liquid formulations, 34% tablets, 18% parenteral preparations. Mostly of the products were antibacterials (27%), cardiovascular medicines (11%) and antivirals (11%). The obtained responses show the perspective of healthcare workers working around the world, particularly in the European region (25%), in the African region (24%), and in the Region of the Americas (19%), with limited representation from Northern Africa and the Middle East. Our results need to be analysed with the outputs of other ongoing works before specific products can enter the WHO-hosted Global Accelerator for Paediatric formulations network prioritisation process. Efforts to develop appropriate formulations for children should be accelerated so that the uncertainties associated with off-label drug preparation and use are minimised, and therapeutic benefits are optimised.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisa Barbieri
- Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Department of Women’s and Children’s Health, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
- Penta—Child Health Research, Padova, Italy
| | - Chiara Minotti
- Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Department of Women’s and Children’s Health, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | | | - Carlo Giaquinto
- Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Department of Women’s and Children’s Health, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
- Penta—Child Health Research, Padova, Italy
| | - Bernadette Cappello
- Department of Health Products Policy and Standards, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Martina Penazzato
- WHO Research for Health Department, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Marc Lallemant
- Penta—Child Health Research, Padova, Italy
- Faculty of Associated Medical Sciences, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand
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3
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Ranmal SR, Lavarde M, Wallon E, Issa S, Taylor WR, Nguyen Ngoc Pouplin JLA, Tuleu C, Pensé-Lhéritier AM. Responsive Sensory Evaluation to Develop Flexible Taste-Masked Paediatric Primaquine Tablets against Malaria for Low-Resource Settings. Pharmaceutics 2023; 15:1879. [PMID: 37514065 PMCID: PMC10385610 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics15071879] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2023] [Revised: 06/22/2023] [Accepted: 06/25/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Primaquine is an important antimalarial drug for malaria transmission blocking and radical cure, but it is not currently available in child-friendly formulations in appropriate doses. Adult-strength tablets are often crushed and dissolved in water to obtain the required dose, which exposes the drug's bitter taste. As part of the developing paediatric primaquine (DPP) project, this study adopted a responsive sensory pharmaceutics approach by integrating real-time formulation development and pre-clinical taste assessment to develop palatable, flavour-infused primaquine tablets. A design of experiment (DoE) approach was used to screen different taste-masking agents and excipient blends with trained, expert sensory assessors, with quinine hydrochloride as a model bitter tastant. The taste-masking efficacy of selected prototype formulation blends was validated with naïve assessors using the highest 15 mg primaquine dose. The mean bitterness intensity rating, measured on a discrete 11-point scale, was halved from 7.04 for the unflavoured control to 2.74-3.70 for the formulation blends. Sucralose had the biggest impact on bitterness suppression and improving palatability. Two different flavouring systems have been developed, and their acceptability in paediatric patients will be assessed as part of upcoming validation field clinical trials in Africa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sejal R Ranmal
- UCL School of Pharmacy, University College London, 29-39 Brunswick Square, London WC1N 1AX, UK
| | - Marc Lavarde
- Ecole de Biologie Industrielle-EBI, UPR EBInnov®, 49 Avenue des Genottes CS90009, 95895 Cergy, France
| | - Elodie Wallon
- Ecole de Biologie Industrielle-EBI, UPR EBInnov®, 49 Avenue des Genottes CS90009, 95895 Cergy, France
| | - Samar Issa
- Ecole de Biologie Industrielle-EBI, UPR EBInnov®, 49 Avenue des Genottes CS90009, 95895 Cergy, France
| | - Walter R Taylor
- Mahidol Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, 420/60 Rajvithi Road, Bangkok 10400, Thailand
- Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3SY, UK
| | | | - Catherine Tuleu
- UCL School of Pharmacy, University College London, 29-39 Brunswick Square, London WC1N 1AX, UK
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4
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Cornilă A, Iurian S, Tomuță I, Porfire A. Orally Dispersible Dosage Forms for Paediatric Use: Current Knowledge and Development of Nanostructure-Based Formulations. Pharmaceutics 2022; 14:pharmaceutics14081621. [PMID: 36015247 PMCID: PMC9414456 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics14081621] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2022] [Revised: 07/25/2022] [Accepted: 07/30/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The paediatric population has always suffered from a lack of medicines tailored to their needs, especially in terms of accurate dosage, stability and acceptability. Orodispersible dosage forms have gone through a resurrection as an alternative to liquid formulations or fractioned solid formulations, although they are still subject to several inconveniences, among which the unpleasant taste and the low oral bioavailability of the API are the most significant hurdles in the way of achieving an optimal drug product. Nanostructures can address these inconveniences through their size and variety, owing to the plethora of materials that can be used in their manufacturing. Through the formation and functionalisation of nanostructures, followed by their inclusion in orodispersible dosage forms, safe, stable and acceptable medicines intended for paediatric use can be developed.
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5
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Iurian S, Bogdan C, Suciu Ș, Muntean DM, Rus L, Berindeie M, Bodi S, Ambrus R, Tomuță I. Milk Oral Lyophilizates with Loratadine: Screening for New Excipients for Pediatric Use. Pharmaceutics 2022; 14:pharmaceutics14071342. [PMID: 35890238 PMCID: PMC9318030 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics14071342] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2022] [Revised: 06/15/2022] [Accepted: 06/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
The development of suitable formulations for the pediatric population remains a challenging field with great advances reported every year in terms of excipients and technology. When developing pediatric formulations, the acceptability of medicines represents a key element to consider. For this reason, milk can be a widely accepted excipient with taste-masking properties and supplementary advantages for drug solubility. In recent years, the orodispersible dosage forms have come onto the market as child-friendly formulations. The current study aimed to develop freeze-dried orodispersible dosage forms containing bovine milk or infant formulae as the main component. In the first stage, an exploratory study evaluated the mechanical properties of placebo milk formulations and the suitability of milk as a matrix-forming agent. As the appropriate mechanical strength to withstand manipulation was demonstrated, milk oral lyophilizates were loaded with a poorly soluble model API, loratadine. Hence, a D-optimal design was conducted to prepare milk lyophilizates with loratadine and to evaluate the effects of three factors (dose of loratadine, the lyophilizate size, and the type of milk) and their interactions. Finally, three formulations were prepared to confront the predictions of the DoE and further studied to thoroughly understand the observed effects. The experimental results showed the potential of milk in the development of oral lyophilizates loaded with different doses of suspended API.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sonia Iurian
- Department of Pharmaceutical Technology and Biopharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, “Iuliu Hațieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 41 V. Babes Street, 400012 Cluj-Napoca, Romania; (S.I.); (Ș.S.); (D.-M.M.); (M.B.); (S.B.); (I.T.)
| | - Cătălina Bogdan
- Department of Dermopharmacy and Cosmetics, Faculty of Pharmacy, “Iuliu Haţieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 12 I. Creangă Street, 400010 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
- Correspondence:
| | - Ștefana Suciu
- Department of Pharmaceutical Technology and Biopharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, “Iuliu Hațieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 41 V. Babes Street, 400012 Cluj-Napoca, Romania; (S.I.); (Ș.S.); (D.-M.M.); (M.B.); (S.B.); (I.T.)
| | - Dana-Maria Muntean
- Department of Pharmaceutical Technology and Biopharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, “Iuliu Hațieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 41 V. Babes Street, 400012 Cluj-Napoca, Romania; (S.I.); (Ș.S.); (D.-M.M.); (M.B.); (S.B.); (I.T.)
| | - Lucia Rus
- Department of Drug Analysis, Faculty of Pharmacy, “Iuliu Haţieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 6 Louis Pasteur Street, 400349 Cluj-Napoca, Romania;
| | - Mihaela Berindeie
- Department of Pharmaceutical Technology and Biopharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, “Iuliu Hațieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 41 V. Babes Street, 400012 Cluj-Napoca, Romania; (S.I.); (Ș.S.); (D.-M.M.); (M.B.); (S.B.); (I.T.)
| | - Szidonia Bodi
- Department of Pharmaceutical Technology and Biopharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, “Iuliu Hațieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 41 V. Babes Street, 400012 Cluj-Napoca, Romania; (S.I.); (Ș.S.); (D.-M.M.); (M.B.); (S.B.); (I.T.)
| | - Rita Ambrus
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Institute of Pharmaceutical Technology and Regulatory Affairs, University of Szeged, Eotvos u. 6, H-6720 Szeged, Hungary;
| | - Ioan Tomuță
- Department of Pharmaceutical Technology and Biopharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, “Iuliu Hațieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 41 V. Babes Street, 400012 Cluj-Napoca, Romania; (S.I.); (Ș.S.); (D.-M.M.); (M.B.); (S.B.); (I.T.)
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6
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de Wildt SN, Wong ICK. Innovative methodologies in paediatric drug development: A conect4children (c4c) special issue. Br J Clin Pharmacol 2022; 88:4962-4964. [PMID: 35491737 DOI: 10.1111/bcp.15355] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2022] [Revised: 04/11/2022] [Accepted: 04/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Saskia N de Wildt
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Radboud University Medical Center, Radboud Institute for Health Sciences, Nijmegen, the Netherlands.,Intensive Care and Department of Pediatric Surgery, Erasmus MC Sophia Children's Hospital, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Ian C K Wong
- Centre for Safe Medication Practice and Research, Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacy, Li Ka Shing, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China.,Research Department of Practice and Policy, UCL, School of Pharmacy, London, UK
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7
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Litalien C, Bérubé S, Tuleu C, Gilpin A, Landry ÉK, Valentin M, Strickley R, Turner MA. From Paediatric Formulations Development to Access: Advances Made and Remaining Challenges. Br J Clin Pharmacol 2022; 88:4349-4383. [PMID: 35229891 DOI: 10.1111/bcp.15293] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2021] [Accepted: 02/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Developing suitable paediatric formulations and ensuring access to them by the greatest number of the 2.2 billion children worldwide are equally important to provide optimal pharmacotherapy. This review focuses on the progress made over the last two decades with paediatric oral formulations with respect to evidence for acceptability and dosing flexibility of liquid and solid oral dosage forms (SODFs). It also discusses the clinical needs for, and the access to, paediatric formulations for existing authorised medicines. A significant body of new knowledge now supports the acceptability of solid oral dosage forms (SODFs) in children, resulting in an increasing number of medicines commercialised as multiparticulates, including minitablets that are starting to be brought to market. However, there are gaps with these formulations that deserve more research. Even though efforts have been made to identify medicines in need of age-appropriate formulations, there is no common priority list shared internationally. Such prioritization would help to develop paediatric formulations with the greatest potential for providing a health benefit to children worldwide. In addition, available data highlight that paediatric formulation access is fragmented and unequal, with commercialisation of suitable paediatric formulations too often limited to some countries/regions. We propose actions to better align decisions during the development of paediatric formulations and promote a more globalized approach to facilitate registration pathways between different jurisdictions. Furthermore, discussions about alignment between approval, pricing, and reimbursement processes should also happen, leaving working in siloes behind us. It is time adults start thinking outside the box for children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Catherine Litalien
- Division of General Pediatrics, Department of Pediatrics, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Sainte-Justine, Montréal, Québec, Canada.,The Rosalind and Morris Goodman Family Pediatric Formulations Centre, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Sainte-Justine, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Sophie Bérubé
- The Rosalind and Morris Goodman Family Pediatric Formulations Centre, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Sainte-Justine, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Catherine Tuleu
- Department of Pharmaceutics, UCL School of Pharmacy, London, United Kingdom
| | - Andrea Gilpin
- The Rosalind and Morris Goodman Family Pediatric Formulations Centre, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Sainte-Justine, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Émilie Kate Landry
- The Rosalind and Morris Goodman Family Pediatric Formulations Centre, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Sainte-Justine, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | | | - Robert Strickley
- Pliant Therapeutics Inc, South San Francisco, California, United States
| | - Mark A Turner
- Neonatal Unit, Liverpool Women's NHS Foundation Trust, Liverpool, United Kingdom.,Department of Women's and Children's Health, University of Liverpool, Liverpool Health Partners, Liverpool, UK
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8
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Walsh J, Masini T, Huttner BD, Moja L, Penazzato M, Cappello B. Assessing the Appropriateness of Formulations on the WHO Model List of Essential Medicines for Children: Development of a Paediatric Quality Target Product Profile Tool. Pharmaceutics 2022; 14:pharmaceutics14030473. [PMID: 35335850 PMCID: PMC8950931 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics14030473] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2021] [Revised: 01/25/2022] [Accepted: 01/29/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The World Health Organization's Model List of Essential Medicines for Children (EMLc) presents a list of the most efficacious, safe, and cost-effective medicines for priority conditions, intended for use in children up to 12 years of age. However, gaps in global availability and use of age-appropriate formulations of medicines for children still exist. To address these shortcomings, a comprehensive analysis of the appropriateness of formulations of essential medicines for children is being undertaken through the Global Accelerator for Paediatric Formulations (GAP-f) network, a WHO network launched in 2020 to respond to the paediatric treatment gap. This article describes the development and application of a paediatric Quality Target Product Profile (pQTPP) tool by WHO, to retrospectively evaluate the paediatric age-appropriateness of formulations on the EMLc and identify potential formulation gaps, to inform the review of the EMLc in 2023. A combination of paediatric-centric and global health-focused attributes and targets were defined, taking into consideration regulatory agency paediatric development guidelines and literature sources, and a qualitative scoring system was developed and tested. Example evaluations of paracetamol and clofazimine are provided, illustrating the tool's use. The assessment of EMLc formulations is ongoing and shortcomings and gaps in EMLc formulations have already been identified. The pQTTP tool may also be applied to national lists and prospectively when designing new paediatric formulations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer Walsh
- Jenny Walsh Consulting Ltd., BioCity Nottingham, Nottingham NG1 1GF, UK
- Correspondence:
| | | | - Benedikt D. Huttner
- WHO Department of Health Products, Policy and Standards, World Health Organization, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland; (B.D.H.); (L.M.); (B.C.)
| | - Lorenzo Moja
- WHO Department of Health Products, Policy and Standards, World Health Organization, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland; (B.D.H.); (L.M.); (B.C.)
| | - Martina Penazzato
- WHO Research for Health Department, World Health Organization, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland;
| | - Bernadette Cappello
- WHO Department of Health Products, Policy and Standards, World Health Organization, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland; (B.D.H.); (L.M.); (B.C.)
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9
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Lafeber I, Ruijgrok EJ, Guchelaar HJ, Schimmel KJM. 3D Printing of Pediatric Medication: The End of Bad Tasting Oral Liquids?—A Scoping Review. Pharmaceutics 2022; 14:pharmaceutics14020416. [PMID: 35214148 PMCID: PMC8880000 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics14020416] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2022] [Revised: 02/11/2022] [Accepted: 02/11/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
3D printing of pediatric-centered drug formulations can provide suitable alternatives to current treatment options, though further research is still warranted for successful clinical implementation of these innovative drug products. Extensive research has been conducted on the compliance of 3D-printed drug products to a pediatric quality target product profile. The 3D-printed tablets were of particular interest in providing superior dosing and release profile similarity compared to conventional drug manipulation and compounding methods, such as oral liquids. In the future, acceptance of 3D-printed tablets in the pediatric patient population might be better than current treatments due to improved palatability. Further research should focus on expanding clinical knowledge, providing regulatory guidance and expansion of the product range, including dosage form possibilities. Moreover, it should enable the use of diverse good manufacturing practice (GMP)-ready 3D printing techniques for the production of various drug products for the pediatric patient population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iris Lafeber
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Toxicology, Leiden University Medical Center, Albinusdreef 2, 2333 ZA Leiden, The Netherlands; (I.L.); (H.-J.G.)
| | - Elisabeth J. Ruijgrok
- Department of Hospital Pharmacy, Erasmus MC—Sophia Children’s Hospital, University Medical Center, Dr. Molewaterplein 40, 3015 GD Rotterdam, The Netherlands;
| | - Henk-Jan Guchelaar
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Toxicology, Leiden University Medical Center, Albinusdreef 2, 2333 ZA Leiden, The Netherlands; (I.L.); (H.-J.G.)
| | - Kirsten J. M. Schimmel
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Toxicology, Leiden University Medical Center, Albinusdreef 2, 2333 ZA Leiden, The Netherlands; (I.L.); (H.-J.G.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +31-(0)71-52-62790
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10
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Kader R, Liminga G, Ljungman G, Paulsson M. Manipulations of Oral Medications in Paediatric Neurology and Oncology Care at a Swedish University Hospital: Health Professionals' Attitudes and Sources of Information. Pharmaceutics 2021; 13:pharmaceutics13101676. [PMID: 34683968 PMCID: PMC8538608 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics13101676] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2021] [Accepted: 10/11/2021] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Oral administration of medications to children requires age-appropriate dosage forms and strengths. In this study, we: (i) assessed the extent of oral dosage form manipulations, (ii) documented how it is carried out, and (iii) examined the attitudes and sources of information regarding the handling from healthcare professionals. Prospective reviews of electronic records, ward observations, and clinician surveys were performed at a paediatric neurology ward and a paediatric oncology ward in Sweden during April to May of 2018. Approximately 15% of oral medications were manipulated for the studied patient group (median age 12.9 years in oncology, 5.8 years in neurology) with approximately 30% of the patients having an enteral feeding tube. Manipulations were performed both to obtain an appropriate dose from, for example, a fraction of the original tablet or to obtain a powder that could be used to prepare a slurry for administration through enteral feeding tubes. Risks identified were related to patient safety such as cross contamination, suboptimal absorption/pharmacokinetics and inaccurate dose. When examining the working environment of nurses, we observed safe handling of hazardous substances but the nurses occasionally experienced stress and a fear of making mistakes due to absence of information. Paediatricians experienced a lack of time to search for proper information on manipulations. As a step towards improving safety in paediatric medication, we suggest the introduction of clinical pharmacists into the team and further evaluating the possibilities of using more ready-to-administer medications with necessary product information and pharmacovigilance support.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rania Kader
- Department of Women’s and Children’s Health, Uppsala University, 751 85 Uppsala, Sweden; (R.K.); (G.L.); (G.L.)
- Division of Pharmacokinetics and Drug Therapy, Department of Pharmaceutical Biosciences, Uppsala University, 751 85 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Gunnar Liminga
- Department of Women’s and Children’s Health, Uppsala University, 751 85 Uppsala, Sweden; (R.K.); (G.L.); (G.L.)
| | - Gustaf Ljungman
- Department of Women’s and Children’s Health, Uppsala University, 751 85 Uppsala, Sweden; (R.K.); (G.L.); (G.L.)
| | - Mattias Paulsson
- Department of Women’s and Children’s Health, Uppsala University, 751 85 Uppsala, Sweden; (R.K.); (G.L.); (G.L.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +46-18-611-3733
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11
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Strisciuglio C, Coppola V, Russo M, Tolone C, Marseglia GL, Verrotti A, Caimmi S, Caloisi C, D'Argenio V, Sacchetti L, Staiano A. Promelaxin Microenemas Are Non-inferior to Oral Polyethylene Glycol for the Treatment of Functional Constipation in Young Children: A Randomized Clinical Trial. Front Pediatr 2021; 9:753938. [PMID: 34778144 PMCID: PMC8586088 DOI: 10.3389/fped.2021.753938] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2021] [Accepted: 09/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Polyethylene glycol (PEG) is recommended as first-line treatment of pediatric functional constipation. However, the oral route of administration is often poorly feasible in children mostly due to poor palatability. Promelaxin microenemas exert a topical evacuative action and may offer a valuable option in pediatric FC. Aim: To assess whether Promelaxin microenemas would be non-inferior to PEG 4000 in young children with FC. Methods: This is a randomized, open-label, multi-centric, non-inferiority trial enrolling infants and young children aged 6-48 months, with FC according to Rome III criteria. After 1 week of run in, children were randomized to 2 weeks of Promelaxin or PEG, followed by a 6-week on-demand treatment period. Primary endpoint was response rate to randomized treatment, with "response" defined as at least 3 evacuations per week and an average increase of at least one evacuation per week as compared to baseline. Safety, stool consistency and the analysis of fecal microbiota were secondary endpoints. Results: Out of the 158 patients who entered the trial, 153 patients were treated (77 and 76, PEG and Promelaxin arm, respectively). In the primary analysis, the 95% confidence interval (CI) for the treatment's effect lay entirely above the non-inferiority margin in both Full Set (FAS) and Per Protocol (PP) analyses, providing evidence of the non-inferiority of Promelaxin vs. PEG 4000 [response rate difference: 16.5% (CI 1.55-31.49%) and 11.03% (CI -5.58 to 27.64%), FAS and PP analyses, respectively]. Mean compliance to the randomized treatment was >80% in both arms. Secondary endpoints did not significantly differ between the two arms, except for the average number of total days of on-demand treatment that was significantly lower in the Promelaxin arm [14.6 (12.7) vs. 9.8 (9.1), mean (SD); primary endpoint responders in PEG and Promelaxin arm, respectively; p = 0.027]. Microbiota evenness significantly increased in the PEG 4000 arm at V4 as compared to the Promelaxin arm (p < 0.05). In addition, at V5, patients treated with PEG showed a significantly decreased microbiota density as compared to patients treated with Promelaxin (p = 0.036). Conclusions: Promelaxin microenemas are non-inferior to oral PEG in children with FC. Clinical Trial Registration: www.ClinicalTrials.gov, identifier: NCT02751411.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caterina Strisciuglio
- Department of Woman, Child and General and Specialized Surgery, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Naples, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Coppola
- Department of Translational Medical Sciences, Section of Pediatric, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Marina Russo
- Department of Translational Medical Sciences, Section of Pediatric, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Carlo Tolone
- Department of Woman, Child and General and Specialized Surgery, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Naples, Italy
| | - Gian Luigi Marseglia
- Maternal and Child Department, IRCCS Foundation Policlinico "S. Matteo" di Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | | | - Silvia Caimmi
- Maternal and Child Department, IRCCS Foundation Policlinico "S. Matteo" di Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Claudia Caloisi
- Department of Pediatrics, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy
| | - Valeria D'Argenio
- CEINGE Biotecnologie Avanzate S. C. A R. L., Naples, Italy.,Department of Human Sciences and Promotion of the Quality of Life, San Raffaele Open University, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Annamaria Staiano
- Department of Translational Medical Sciences, Section of Pediatric, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
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