DREAMSTIME, RENATA OSINSKA

In an effort to tailor healthcare to the unique physiological requirements of children, the pharmaceutical industry is researching 282 new children-specific medicines for a variety of diseases, including cancer, cystic fibrosis, epilepsy, and infectious diseases.

“These medicines offer hope that the significant improvements achieved in children’s health over the past few decades will continue and even accelerate,” said John J. Castellani, president of Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA), which issued the report, in a press release.

Many in the industry are also working to determine children-effective and safe dosages for existing treatments, in accordance with the Pediatric Research Equity and Best Pharmaceuticals for Children Acts, which require additional research into drugs for pediatric use.

Check back with The Scientist in March when two feature articles will explore the challenges of developing, testing, and prescribing drugs made to treat children.

Interested in reading more?

Become a Member of

Receive full access to more than 35 years of archives, as well as TS Digest, digital editions of The Scientist, feature stories, and much more!
Already a member?