Paediatric drug optimization for tuberculosis

Book excerpt: Paediatric drug optimization (PADO) exercises have been convened by the World Health Organization (WHO) for various diseases, demonstrating their potential and impact to accelerate access to optimal formulations in the context of fragmented small markets for medicines for children. The WHO Global Tuberculosis Programme has convened PADO-TB meetings since February 2019 (PADO-TB1), followed by an interim review of the PADO-TB1 priorities in September 2020. Optimization of paediatric TB medicines forms part of the key actions in the Roadmap towards ending TB in children and adolescents, third edition and contributes to the achievement of the targets for ending TB in children and adolescents set out at the second United Nations High-level Meeting on the Fight Against TB in 2023. Considering the latest WHO recommendations on drug-susceptible TB, drug-resistant TB and TB preventive treatment, recent developments in new TB medicines and formulations made available, results of clinical trials and studies, and advancements of key medicines in the TB R&D pipeline, WHO convened the second PADO-TB meeting (PADO-TB2) on 3–5 October 2023. This meeting report summarizes the proceedings, discussions and the main consensus-based outputs of the PADO-TB2 meeting: - PADO-TB2 priority list (priority formulations to be investigated/developed in the short term and essential formulations to be developed in the longer term) - PADO-TB2 watch list (promising candidates for investigation/development for children within 5–10 years) - Priority research questions.