Although the decline in infant mortality has slowed since 2015, there is a lack of research on new life-saving tools for children. This is partly due to the complexity of conducting surveys that include the youngest age groups.
Children are often unable to swallow tablets or capsules, cannot tolerate the taste of liquid medicines, and metabolize medicines differently as they develop and grow. Pediatric medicines must be palatable, shredded, grindable, dispersible (i.e., quickly disintegrates in water), chewable, sprinkled on food, or mixed with breast milk. Appropriate medicines to save and improve the lives of infants and children are often absent, unavailable, or of unassured quality, especially in low-resource settings.
Despite significant progress in child health, with 6 million fewer children under five dying in 2016 than in 1990, the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals for health and well-being (SDGs), in particular SDG 3, requires urgent action. A related goal of achieving universal health coverage (UHC) by 2030.
GAP-f network partners are working together to contribute to UHC by removing barriers to developing and delivering appropriate, high-quality, affordable and accessible medicines for children. GAP-f improves the lives of children by fostering collaboration among stakeholders to identify gaps, set priorities that align with needs, and accelerate the research, development, and delivery of products. I’ll save you.
Below are the key GAP-f events and documents released to commemorate World Children’s Day.
Exploring innovative approaches for rapid access to pediatric medicines against antimicrobial resistance
The final webinar of 2023 in the GAP-f #BetterMeds4Kids webinar series focuses on exploring innovative approaches for rapid access to pediatric medicines against antimicrobial resistance (AMR). The webinar will be held on November 20, 2023 at 14:00 Central European Time. Click here for more information.
Product Overview of Cefiderocol
Despite significant advances, preventable and treatable infectious diseases remain the leading cause of death in children under 5 years of age. Bacterial infections, particularly pneumonia, neonatal sepsis, and gastrointestinal infections, are the leading causes of infectious deaths in this age group worldwide. This problem is further exacerbated by the global rise in antimicrobial resistance.
WHO conducted an exercise to create a Pediatric Drug Optimization (PADO) priority list of antibiotics for development. This list has no age-appropriate formulations, although all included products have approved pediatric indications.
Of those on the list, the most ongoing research to date focuses on cefiderocol, which will further advance efforts to make it accessible to children, the status of clinical trials, and regulatory approvals. , the subject of a new product brief documenting research priorities. .
Priority treatments for neglected tropical diseases
Few new drugs for neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) are developed because of limited financial incentives. Some NTDs disproportionately affect children relative to adults. As with most diseases that affect adults and children, the burden on children is compounded by their lack of inclusion in clinical trials and lack of age-appropriate dosing. .
To help address these challenges, WHO has developed a PADO priority list for schistosomiasis, African trypanosomiasis, scabies, onchocerciasis and visceral leishmaniasis.
Pediatric cancer R&D pipeline analysis
Childhood cancer remains the leading cause of death for children worldwide, killing more than 100,000 people each year. Despite significant advances in cancer research and development (R&D), few clinical trials have addressed the impact of investigational drugs on tumor biology in children, particularly those living in low- and middle-income countries.
To map gaps and barriers, WHO has developed the following overview: Childhood cancer research and development statusIt uses data from WHO’s Global Observatory for Health Research and Development (GOHRD) to show where more investment is needed.
