Orodispersible tablets for pediatric drug delivery: current challenges and recent advances

Child appropriate dosage forms are indispensable in modern medicine and are a prerequisite for successful pediatric drug therapy. For years, experts have called for a paradigm shift, from liquid dosage forms to novel oral solid dosage forms. This review aims to shed light on recent developments in Orodispersible tablets (ODTs) and mini-tablets (ODMTs).

This review focuses on the presentation and critical discussion of current challenges as well as recent advances in ODTs for pediatric drug delivery. Highlighted aspects are the evidence for acceptability by children, e.g. in comparison to other dosage forms, and limitations given by tablet size at different ages, as well as advances in special ODT formulations (taste masking, modified release, enabling formulations).

It is the authors' belief that OD(M)Ts have significant potential as dosage forms in pediatric therapy that has not yet been fully exploited. The reasons for this are, first, that the number of direct acceptance studies is extremely low and the resulting knowledge is therefore rather anecdotal. Despite the high relevance, there seems to be reluctance both in the therapeutic use and conduction of respective studies in children. However, if one combines the knowledge from the few existing studies, surveys, and from approved products, it becomes apparent that so far there is no evidence on limitations of the use of ODTs in pediatric patients.