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Domingues C, Jarak I, Veiga F, Dourado M, Figueiras A. Pediatric Drug Development: Reviewing Challenges and Opportunities by Tracking Innovative Therapies. Pharmaceutics 2023; 15:2431. [PMID: 37896191 PMCID: PMC10610377 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics15102431] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2023] [Revised: 09/16/2023] [Accepted: 09/25/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The paradigm of pediatric drug development has been evolving in a "carrot-and-stick"-based tactic to address population-specific issues. However, the off-label prescription of adult medicines to pediatric patients remains a feature of clinical practice, which may compromise the age-appropriate evaluation of treatments. Therefore, the United States and the European Pediatric Formulation Initiative have recommended applying nanotechnology-based delivery systems to tackle some of these challenges, particularly applying inorganic, polymeric, and lipid-based nanoparticles. Connected with these, advanced therapy medicinal products (ATMPs) have also been highlighted, with optimistic perspectives for the pediatric population. Despite the results achieved using these innovative therapies, a workforce that congregates pediatric patients and/or caregivers, healthcare stakeholders, drug developers, and physicians continues to be of utmost relevance to promote standardized guidelines for pediatric drug development, enabling a fast lab-to-clinical translation. Therefore, taking into consideration the significance of this topic, this work aims to compile the current landscape of pediatric drug development by (1) outlining the historic regulatory panorama, (2) summarizing the challenges in the development of pediatric drug formulation, and (3) delineating the advantages/disadvantages of using innovative approaches, such as nanomedicines and ATMPs in pediatrics. Moreover, some attention will be given to the role of pharmaceutical technologists and developers in conceiving pediatric medicines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cátia Domingues
- Univ Coimbra, Laboratory of Drug Development and Technologies, Faculty of Pharmacy, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal; (C.D.); (I.J.); (F.V.)
- LAQV-REQUIMTE, Laboratory of Drug Development and Technologies, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Coimbra, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal
- Univ Coimbra, Institute for Clinical and Biomedical Research (iCBR) Area of Environment Genetics and Oncobiology (CIMAGO), Faculty of Medicine, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal;
| | - Ivana Jarak
- Univ Coimbra, Laboratory of Drug Development and Technologies, Faculty of Pharmacy, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal; (C.D.); (I.J.); (F.V.)
- Institute for Health Research and Innovation (i3s), University of Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
| | - Francisco Veiga
- Univ Coimbra, Laboratory of Drug Development and Technologies, Faculty of Pharmacy, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal; (C.D.); (I.J.); (F.V.)
- LAQV-REQUIMTE, Laboratory of Drug Development and Technologies, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Coimbra, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Marília Dourado
- Univ Coimbra, Institute for Clinical and Biomedical Research (iCBR) Area of Environment Genetics and Oncobiology (CIMAGO), Faculty of Medicine, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal;
- Univ Coimbra, Center for Health Studies and Research of the University of Coimbra (CEISUC), Faculty of Medicine, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal
- Univ Coimbra, Center for Studies and Development of Continuous and Palliative Care (CEDCCP), Faculty of Medicine, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Ana Figueiras
- Univ Coimbra, Laboratory of Drug Development and Technologies, Faculty of Pharmacy, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal; (C.D.); (I.J.); (F.V.)
- LAQV-REQUIMTE, Laboratory of Drug Development and Technologies, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Coimbra, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal
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2
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Bouazza N, Dokoumetzidis A, Knibbe CAJ, de Wildt SN, Ambery C, De Cock PA, Gasthuys E, Foissac F, Urien S, Hamberg AK, Poggesi I, Zhao W, Vermeulen A, Standing JF, Tréluyer JM. General clinical and methodological considerations on the extrapolation of pharmacokinetics and optimization of study protocols for small molecules and monoclonal antibodies in children. Br J Clin Pharmacol 2022; 88:4985-4996. [PMID: 36256514 DOI: 10.1111/bcp.15571] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2021] [Revised: 09/05/2022] [Accepted: 09/20/2022] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Pharmacometric modelling plays a key role in both the design and analysis of regulatory trials in paediatric drug development. Studies in adults provide a rich source of data to inform the paediatric investigation plans, including knowledge on drug pharmacokinetics (PK), safety and efficacy. In children, drug disposition differs widely from birth to adolescence but extrapolating adult to paediatric PK, safety and efficacy either with pharmacometric or physiologically based approaches can help design or in some cases reduce the need for clinical studies. Aspects to consider when extrapolating PK include the maturation of drug metabolizing enzyme expression, glomerular filtration, drug excretory systems, and the expression and activity of specific transporters in conjunction with other drug properties such as fraction unbound. Knowledge of these can be used to develop extrapolation tools such as allometric scaling plus maturation functions or physiologically based PK. PK/pharmacodynamic approaches and well-designed clinical trials in children are of key importance in paediatric drug development. In this white paper, state-of-the-art of current methods used for paediatric extrapolation will be discussed. This paper is part of a conect4children implementation of innovative methodologies including pharmacometric and physiologically based PK modelling in clinical trial design/paediatric drug development through dissemination of expertise and expert advice. The suggestions arising from this white paper should define a minimum set of standards in paediatric modelling and contribute to the regulatory science.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naïm Bouazza
- Pediatric and Perinatal Drug Evaluation and Pharmacology, Université Paris Cité, Paris, France.,Unité de Recherche Clinique Université Paris Cité Necker-Cochin, AP-HP, Paris, France.,CIC-1419 Inserm, Cochin-Necker, Paris, France
| | | | - Catherijne A J Knibbe
- Division of Systems Biomedicine and Pharmacology, Leiden Academic Centre for Drug Research, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands.,Department of Clinical Pharmacy, St. Antonius Hospital, Nieuwegein, The Netherlands
| | - Saskia N de Wildt
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Radboud Institute for Health Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.,Department of Intensive Care and Paediatric Surgery, Erasmus MC-Sophia Children's Hospital, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Claire Ambery
- Clinical Pharmacology Modelling and Simulation, GlaxoSmithKline plc, London, UK
| | - Pieter A De Cock
- Department of Basic and Applied Medical Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.,Department of Pharmacy, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium.,Department of Pediatric Intensive Care, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Elke Gasthuys
- Department of Bioanalysis, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Ghent, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Frantz Foissac
- Pediatric and Perinatal Drug Evaluation and Pharmacology, Université Paris Cité, Paris, France.,Unité de Recherche Clinique Université Paris Cité Necker-Cochin, AP-HP, Paris, France.,CIC-1419 Inserm, Cochin-Necker, Paris, France
| | - Saïk Urien
- Pediatric and Perinatal Drug Evaluation and Pharmacology, Université Paris Cité, Paris, France.,Unité de Recherche Clinique Université Paris Cité Necker-Cochin, AP-HP, Paris, France.,CIC-1419 Inserm, Cochin-Necker, Paris, France
| | - Anna-Karin Hamberg
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Uppsala University Hospital, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Italo Poggesi
- Clinical Pharmacology and Pharmacometrics, Janssen Research & Development, Beerse, Belgium
| | - Wei Zhao
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology (Ministry of Education), School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China.,Department of Pharmacy, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Provincial Qianfoshan Hospital, Jinan, China.,Clinical Research Centre, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Provincial Qianfoshan Hospital, Jinan, China
| | - An Vermeulen
- Department of Bioanalysis, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Ghent, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Joseph F Standing
- Infection, Inflammation and Immunology, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London, UK.,Department of Pharmacy, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children, London, UK
| | - Jean-Marc Tréluyer
- Pediatric and Perinatal Drug Evaluation and Pharmacology, Université Paris Cité, Paris, France.,Unité de Recherche Clinique Université Paris Cité Necker-Cochin, AP-HP, Paris, France.,CIC-1419 Inserm, Cochin-Necker, Paris, France
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Zazo H, Lagarejos E, Prado-Velasco M, Sánchez-Herrero S, Serna J, Rueda-Ferreiro A, Martín-Suárez A, Calvo MV, Pérez-Blanco JS, Lanao JM. Physiologically-based pharmacokinetic modelling and dosing evaluation of gentamicin in neonates using PhysPK. Front Pharmacol 2022; 13:977372. [PMID: 36249803 PMCID: PMC9554458 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2022.977372] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2022] [Accepted: 09/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Each year, infections caused around the 25% of neonatal deaths. Early empirical treatments help to reduce this mortality, although optimized dosing regimens are still lacking. The aims were to develop and validate a gentamicin physiologically-based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) model and then potentially explore dosing regimens in neonates using pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic criteria. The PBPK model developed consisted of 2 flow-limited tissues: kidney and other tissues. It has been implemented on a new tool called PhysPK, which allows structure reusability and evolution as predictive engine in Model-Informed Precision Dosing (MIPD). Retrospective pharmacokinetic information based on serum levels data from 47 neonates with gestational age between 32 and 39 weeks and younger than one-week postnatal age were used for model validation. The minimal PBPK model developed adequately described the gentamicin serum concentration-time profile with an average fold error nearly 1. Extended interval gentamicin dosing regimens (6 mg/kg q36h and 6 mg/kg q48h for term and preterm neonates, respectively) showed efficacy higher than 99% with toxicity lower than 10% through Monte Carlo simulation evaluations. The gentamicin minimal PBPK model developed in PhysPK from literature information, and validated in preterm and term neonates, presents adequate predictive performance and could be useful for MIPD strategies in neonates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hinojal Zazo
- Pharmaceutical Sciences Department, University of Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain
- Institute of Biomedical Research of Salamanca (IBSAL), Salamanca, Spain
| | - Eduardo Lagarejos
- Pharmaceutical Sciences Department, University of Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain
| | - Manuel Prado-Velasco
- Multiscale Modelling in Bioengineering Research Group and Department of Graphic Engineering, University of Seville, Seville, Spain
| | | | - Jenifer Serna
- Simulation Department, Empresarios Agrupados Internacional S.A., Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Ana Martín-Suárez
- Pharmaceutical Sciences Department, University of Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain
- Institute of Biomedical Research of Salamanca (IBSAL), Salamanca, Spain
| | - M. Victoria Calvo
- Pharmaceutical Sciences Department, University of Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain
- Institute of Biomedical Research of Salamanca (IBSAL), Salamanca, Spain
| | - Jonás Samuel Pérez-Blanco
- Pharmaceutical Sciences Department, University of Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain
- Institute of Biomedical Research of Salamanca (IBSAL), Salamanca, Spain
- *Correspondence: Jonás Samuel Pérez-Blanco, ; José M. Lanao,
| | - José M. Lanao
- Pharmaceutical Sciences Department, University of Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain
- Institute of Biomedical Research of Salamanca (IBSAL), Salamanca, Spain
- *Correspondence: Jonás Samuel Pérez-Blanco, ; José M. Lanao,
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Wollmer E, Ungell AL, Nicolas JM, Klein S. Review of paediatric gastrointestinal physiology relevant to the absorption of orally administered medicines. Adv Drug Deliv Rev 2022; 181:114084. [PMID: 34929252 DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2021.114084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2021] [Revised: 11/13/2021] [Accepted: 12/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Despite much progress in regulations to improve paediatric drug development, there remains a significant need to develop better medications for children. For the design of oral dosage forms, a detailed understanding of the specific gastrointestinal (GI) conditions in children of different age categories and how they differ from GI conditions in adults is essential. Several review articles have been published addressing the ontogeny of GI characteristics, including luminal conditions in the GI tract of children. However, the data reported in most of these reviews are of limited quality because (1) information was cited from very old publications and sometimes low quality sources, (2) data gaps in the original data were filled with textbook knowledge, (3) data obtained on healthy and sick children were mixed, (4) average data obtained on groups of patients were mixed with data obtained on individual patients, and (5) results obtained using investigative techniques that may have altered the outcome of the respective studies were considered. Consequently, many of these reviews draw conclusions that may be incorrect. The aim of the present review was to provide a comprehensive and updated overview of the available original data on the ontogeny of GI luminal conditions relevant to oral drug absorption in the paediatric population. To this end, the PubMed and Web of Science metadatabases were searched for appropriate studies that examined age-related conditions in the oral cavity, esophagus, stomach, small intestine, and colon. Maturation was observed for several GI parameters, and corresponding data sets were identified for each paediatric age group. However, it also became clear that the ontogeny of several GI traits in the paediatric population is not yet known. The review article provides a robust and valuable data set for the development of paediatric in vitro and in silico biopharmaceutical tools to support the development of age-appropriate dosage forms. In addition, it provides important information on existing data gaps and should provide impetus for further systematic and well-designed in vivo studies on GI physiology in children of specific age groups in order to close existing knowledge gaps and to sustainably improve oral drug therapy in children.
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Walsh J, Schaufelberger D, Iurian S, Klein S, Batchelor H, Turner R, Gizurarson S, Boltri L, Alessandrini E, Tuleu C. Path towards efficient paediatric formulation development based on partnering with clinical pharmacologists and clinicians, a conect4children expert group white paper. Br J Clin Pharmacol 2021; 88:5034-5051. [PMID: 34265091 DOI: 10.1111/bcp.14989] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2021] [Revised: 06/10/2021] [Accepted: 07/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Improved global access to novel age-appropriate formulations for paediatric subsets, either of new chemical entities or existing drugs, is a priority to ensure that medicines meet the needs of these patients. However, despite regulatory incentives, the introduction to the market of paediatric formulations still lags behind adult products. This is mainly caused by additional complexities associated with the development of acceptable age-appropriate paediatric medicines. This position paper recommends the use of a paediatric Quality Target Product Profile as an efficient tool to facilitate early planning and decision making across all teams involved in paediatric formulation development during the children-centric formulation design for new chemical entities, or to repurpose/reformulate off-patent drugs. Essential key attributes of a paediatric formulation are suggested and described. Moreover, greater collaboration between formulation experts and clinical colleagues, including healthcare professionals, is advocated to lead to safe and effective, age-appropriate medicinal products. Acceptability testing should be a secondary endpoint in paediatric clinical trials to ensure postmarketing adherence is not compromised by a lack of acceptability. Not knowing the indications and the related age groups and potential dosing regimens early enough is still a major hurdle for efficient paediatric formulation development; however, the proposed paediatric Quality Target Product Profile could be a valuable collaborative tool for planning and decision making to expedite paediatric product development, particularly for those with limited experience in developing a paediatric product.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer Walsh
- BioCity Nottingham, Jenny Walsh Consulting Ltd, Nottingham, UK
| | - Daniel Schaufelberger
- School of Medicine, All Children's Hospital, Schaufelberger Consulting LLC and Johns Hopkins University, St. Petersburg, FL, USA
| | - Sonia Iurian
- Department of Pharmaceutical Technology and Biopharmacy, Iuliu Haţieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Sandra Klein
- Department of Pharmacy, Institute of Biopharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Technology, University of Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Hannah Batchelor
- Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, UK
| | - Roy Turner
- Idorsia Pharmaceuticals Ltd, Allschwil, Switzerland
| | - Sveinbjörn Gizurarson
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Iceland, Reykjavik, Iceland; and Pharmacy Department, Kamuzu University of Health Sciences, Blantyre, Malawi
| | - Luigi Boltri
- Pharmaceutical Development, Adare Pharmaceuticals, Milan, Italy
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6
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Gleeson JP, Fein KC, Whitehead KA. Oral delivery of peptide therapeutics in infants: Challenges and opportunities. Adv Drug Deliv Rev 2021; 173:112-124. [PMID: 33774115 PMCID: PMC8178217 DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2021.03.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2021] [Revised: 03/09/2021] [Accepted: 03/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The vast majority of drugs are not designed or developed for pediatric and infant populations. Peptide drugs, which have become increasingly relevant in the past several decades, are no exception. Unfortunately, nearly all of the 60+ approved peptide drugs are formulated for injection, a particularly unfriendly mode of administration for infants. Although three peptide drugs were recently approved for oral formulations, this major advance in peptide drug delivery is available only for adults. In this review, we consider the current challenges and opportunities for the oral formulation of peptide therapeutics, specifically for infant populations. We describe the strategies that enable oral protein delivery and the potential impact of infant physiology on those strategies. We also detail the limited but encouraging progress towards 1) adapting conventional drug development and delivery approaches to infants and 2) designing novel infant-centric formulations. Together, these efforts underscore the feasibility of oral peptide delivery in infants and provide motivation to increase attention paid to this underserved area of drug delivery and formulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- John P Gleeson
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, United States
| | - Katherine C Fein
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, United States
| | - Kathryn A Whitehead
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, United States; Department of Biomedical Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, United States.
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