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17/08/2004
New plans to focus on providing better medicines for children
A new initiative to encourage the development of more medicines designed specifically for use in children has been announced today by the government.
The new paediatric medicines strategy is aimed at encouraging manufacturers of medicines to research and develop medicines geared to the needs of children. They will also make sure prescribers have better information about the impact of medicines on children.
Most medicines are designed for and tested on adults but are widely prescribed for children. The government has said the move is necessary as children and adults "respond very differently to medicines" and that a treatment which is effective in adults may not be as suitable for children.
Under the plans, part of the additional £100 million announced in the Budget to promote research into medicines for children will be invested through new research networks coordinated by the UK Clinical Research Collaboration.
Better information on the use of medicines on children in patient information leaflets and strongly encouraging companies to provide much better paediatric clinical trial data for new and current medicines also form part of the strategy.
Health Minister Lord Warner said: "I want the new strategy that I have announced today to give a strong message to pharmaceutical companies to focus on the needs of children when developing new medicines. Health professionals need the latest information so that they can make the right choices about the medicines and treatments for their younger patients, and that is why the new British National Formulary for Children is so important".
Professor Rosalind Smyth, Chair of the Committee on Safety of Medicines Paediatric Working Group, said the plans had the potential to make a real difference for children, parents and prescribers.
"Children have the right to the same standards for medicines as adults and this strategy is another step towards achieving this," he added.
(gmcg)
The new paediatric medicines strategy is aimed at encouraging manufacturers of medicines to research and develop medicines geared to the needs of children. They will also make sure prescribers have better information about the impact of medicines on children.
Most medicines are designed for and tested on adults but are widely prescribed for children. The government has said the move is necessary as children and adults "respond very differently to medicines" and that a treatment which is effective in adults may not be as suitable for children.
Under the plans, part of the additional £100 million announced in the Budget to promote research into medicines for children will be invested through new research networks coordinated by the UK Clinical Research Collaboration.
Better information on the use of medicines on children in patient information leaflets and strongly encouraging companies to provide much better paediatric clinical trial data for new and current medicines also form part of the strategy.
Health Minister Lord Warner said: "I want the new strategy that I have announced today to give a strong message to pharmaceutical companies to focus on the needs of children when developing new medicines. Health professionals need the latest information so that they can make the right choices about the medicines and treatments for their younger patients, and that is why the new British National Formulary for Children is so important".
Professor Rosalind Smyth, Chair of the Committee on Safety of Medicines Paediatric Working Group, said the plans had the potential to make a real difference for children, parents and prescribers.
"Children have the right to the same standards for medicines as adults and this strategy is another step towards achieving this," he added.
(gmcg)
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