Collaboration formed to better understand the challenges of paediatric medicines

The Catalent Applied Drug Delivery Institute has formed a collaboration with the Department of Pharmacy Practice at Rutgers University to examine the specific challenges of paediatric formulation and drug delivery.

This partnership will enable research into the development and administration of paediatric medicines. It is aimed at identifying therapies and diseases that require paediatric-friendly formulations as well as building awareness about the need for targeted translational research to address the specific needs of this patient group.

“Clinical experience has shown us that current paediatric drug formulations are often difficult to administer to children and increase the likelihood for a medication error when compared with adult formulations, commented Dr Rachel Meyers, clinical associate professor in the Pharmacy Practice Department at the Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy, Rutgers University. “There is a clear need for research in this area, to further elucidate the gaps in drug delivery for young children, and in order to improve therapeutic outcomes and the patient experience.”

“This continues to expand the academically productive relationship that exists between Catalent and the Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy,” added Dr Joseph Barone, dean and professor II at the Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy.

“Through this exciting partnership, we will examine and highlight the unmet scientific, clinical and patient needs, and look to develop a suitable paediatric-specific drug formulation toolkit to address them,” added Dr Cornell Stamoran, founder of the Catalent Applied Drug Delivery Institute and Catalent’s VP Strategy. “Most initiatives focus on individual new drugs or disease areas — we’re collaborating to identify a broad platform, founded on rigorous stakeholder insights, to establish a foundation for future paediatric drug development.”