Better medicines for children: challenges and unmet needs

This review deals with the use of medicinal products in children. Many medicinal products administered routinely to paediatric patients have been either not licensed for use in children (unlicensed use) or have been prescribed outside the terms of their product license (off-label prescribing). A lot of surveys have been conducted in the context of identifying the extent of off-label used drugs in children documenting high rates (45-60 %) of such use. Recognising and meeting challenges as development of suitable formulations for very young children and realization of clinical trials involving children present important steps in the enhancement of the present situation. To improve the health of children in Europe, the Regulation (EC) No 1901/2006 addressing the pharmaceutical industry, research teams and member states proposing important incentives and obligations was assigned. Paediatric Investigation Plan and Paediatric Use Marketing Authorisation present the key measures of the EU regulation on medicinal products for paediatric patients.