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Advances in Drug Discovery and Development for Pediatric Tuberculosis

Daniel Hoagland, Ying Zhao, Richard E Lee1

  • 1Department of Chemical Biology and Therapeutics, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, MS#1000, Memphis, TN 38105, USA. Richard.Lee@stjude.org.

Mini Reviews in Medicinal Chemistry
|July 24, 2015
PubMed

Insights

Pediatric tuberculosis affects half a million children globally. This review explores safer drug options and new agents for treating drug-resistant pediatric tuberculosis, addressing unique challenges in children.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric infectious diseases
  • Mycobacterial infections
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Pediatric tuberculosis (TB) is a significant global health issue, affecting approximately 500,000 children annually.
  • Children face higher susceptibility to TB infection, disease progression, and extrapulmonary dissemination.
  • Current TB treatments for children are adapted from adult regimens, posing challenges due to differing pathology, pharmacokinetics, and safety profiles.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review safety concerns of current first- and second-line anti-TB agents in pediatric populations.
  • To identify and prioritize agents with better tolerability for children with complex drug-resistant infections.
  • To assess the suitability of novel anti-TB drugs in the clinical pipeline for pediatric use.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of current and emerging anti-tuberculosis therapies.
  • Analysis of drug pharmacokinetics, safety data, and clinical trial information relevant to pediatric TB.
  • Evaluation of chemical properties and potential efficacy of new drug candidates for pediatric multi-drug resistant TB.

Main Results:

  • Current anti-TB agents present safety concerns in children, necessitating careful dosing and monitoring.
  • Several new anti-TB drugs in development show promise for improved efficacy and safety in pediatric patients.
  • Understanding pediatric-specific drug profiles is crucial for optimizing treatment strategies.

Conclusions:

  • There is a critical need for better-tolerated and effective treatments for pediatric tuberculosis, especially drug-resistant forms.
  • New anti-TB agents in development may offer significant advantages for treating children.
  • Further research and clinical trials focused on pediatric populations are essential for advancing treatment options.

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