Drugs for neglected tropical diseases: availability of age-appropriate oral formulations for young children

It is recognised that paediatric indications and age-appropriate formulations are required to ensure that paediatric populations receive appropriate pharmacotherapeutic treatment. The lack of information on dosing, efficacy and safety data (labelling) is a well-recognised problem for all diseases affecting children. For neglected tropical diseases, the fact that they affect to a large extent poor and marginalised populations in low- and middle-income countries means that there is a low economic return on investment into paediatric development activities compared to other diseases [e.g. human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)].

This review provides an introduction to issues affecting the availability and development of paediatric population-relevant data and appropriate formulations of drugs for NTDs. We are summarising why age-appropriate formulations are important to ensure treatment efficacy, safety and effectiveness, outline initiatives to increase the number of paediatric indications/labelling and age-appropriate formulations, provide an overview of publicly available information on the formulations of oral drugs for NTDs relative to age appropriateness and give an introduction to options for age-appropriate formulations. The review completes with ‘case studies’ of recently developed paediatric formulations for NTDs, complemented by case studies for fixed-dose combinations for HIV infection in children since such formulations have not been developed for NTDs.

Table 5: Key advantages and disadvantages of paediatric formulation options for oral solid dosage forms compared to conventional tablets, capsules or oral liquids

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Excpients and topics mentioned in the research paper: Eudragit E PO, HPMC, Starch, MCC, PEG, Mannitol,  Povidones, Silica, taste masking, sustained release,

Al-Obaidi, I., Krome, A.K., Wagner, K.G. et al. Drugs for neglected tropical diseases: availability of age-appropriate oral formulations for young children. Parasites Vectors 15, 462 (2022).
https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-022-05546-7