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Global aspects of drug development

Kalle Hoppu1, Hans V Hogerzeil

  • 1Poison Information Centre, Helsinki University Central Hospital and Hospital for Children and Adolescents, Institute for Clinical Sciences, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland. kalle.hoppu@hus.fi

Handbook of Experimental Pharmacology
|September 2, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Millions of children under five die annually from treatable conditions. Improving access to essential medicines for children globally is crucial for achieving child health goals and addressing developmental needs.

Area of Science:

  • Child Health
  • Global Health
  • Pharmaceutical Development

Background:

  • Approximately nine million children under five die yearly from preventable or treatable conditions.
  • Lack of access to appropriate medicines is a significant, though not the sole, contributor to child mortality.
  • Existing medicines could prevent many of these deaths, highlighting a critical gap in healthcare access.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore the challenges and opportunities in developing pediatric medicines for the developing world.
  • To emphasize the importance of global and regional initiatives in pediatric medicine development.
  • To highlight tools and strategies for improving children's access to essential medicines.

Main Methods:

  • Review of global child mortality data related to treatable conditions.
  • Analysis of the role of existing medicines in pediatric healthcare.
  • Examination of regional and global initiatives for pediatric medicine development.
  • Case study of the World Health Organization's Essential Medicines List for children.

Main Results:

  • Many childhood deaths are preventable with existing, accessible medicines.
  • Global and regional collaborations can amplify the impact of pediatric medicine initiatives.
  • The Essential Medicines List for children is a key tool for improving access.

Conclusions:

  • Enhanced access to appropriate medicines is vital for achieving global child health targets.
  • Targeted development and distribution of pediatric medicines are essential for low-resource settings.
  • International cooperation and resource allocation are critical for pediatric pharmaceutical advancement.

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