Paediatric drug optimization for neglected tropical diseases

Book excerpt: Priority-setting is the first step to enable a targeted approach to research and development. Developing a prioritized drug portfolio of the most needed formulations for children is essential to streamline researchers’ and supplier’s efforts and resources around specific dosage forms and formulations that address most urgent needs for children. In general, due to limited financial incentives, few new drugs are being developed for Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs). Several NTDs disproportionately affect children compared to adults and, as is the case like for most diseases affecting adults and children, the burden to children is compounded by lack of inclusion of paediatric populations in clinical trials and/or lack of age-appropriate dosing regimens and formulations. The PADO-NTD exercise concluded with a final meeting organized in September 2023 with representatives from the four prioritized disease areas to reach consensus on a final PADO-NTD priority list, watch list and research questions and discuss transversal issues for the way forward. The meeting report will include summaries of the background, discussions and deliberations of all PADO exercises, and final conclusions and outputs of the overall PADO for NTD exercises.