Formulation Considerations For Pediatric Populations: Finding The Right Dosage Form For Better Adherence

Medication adherence is influenced by several factors – the method of treatment, healthcare accessibility, a patient’s socioeconomic status, and the palatability and swallowability of a drug all play a role in influencing a patient’s adherence. For pediatric populations, adherence can be complicated by other considerations, such as a child’s ability or willingness to accommodate any bitterness or formulation texture issues. Liquid and chewable formulations are common for pediatric medications. While many active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) can be adequately masked in such formulations, numerous bitter APIs present formulation challenges that can benefit from novel taste-masking approaches.

By partnering with a contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) with experience in pediatric formulation, pharmaceutical companies can increase acceptability of their drugs among pediatric patients. Pediatric patient idiosyncrasies and an increased regulatory focus on adherence impacts a pharmaceutical landscape that is also shifting toward more patient-centered, at-home care. With regulatory bodies emphasizing the importance of co-developing pediatric formulations from the beginning of a drug’s development, coordinated, comprehensive scale-up and manufacturing is integral to a treatment’s ultimate commercial and therapeutic success.