Prof. Nunzio Denora , Dr. Antonio Lopalco
International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067)
The development of paediatric medicines can be challenging since this is a diverse patient population with specific needs. A medicine designed for use in paediatric patients must consider the following aspects: patient population variability; the need for dose flexibility; route of administration; patient compliance; excipient tolerability. For example, the toxicity of excipients may differ in children compared to adults and children have different taste preferences.
Globally, about 75% of drugs do not carry regulatory approval for use in children; worldwide, many medications prescribed for the treatment of paediatric diseases are used off label, and less than 20% of package inserts have sufficient information for treating children.
The aim of this Special Issue is to provide an update on both state-of-the-art methodology and operational challenges in paediatric formulation design and development. It aims at re-evaluating what is needed for more progress in the design and development of age-appropriate treatments for paediatric diseases.
We welcome original research, review, opinion papers, editorials, or short communications on the following topics:
- paediatric formulation development;
- drug delivery design in paediatrics;
- orphan drugs;
- pharmacology and toxicology of drugs and excipients in paediatrics.