Children's preferences among six novel moxifloxacin and linezolid-dispersible tablet formulations

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Pharmacology
• Drug Formulation Science
• Taste Perception Studies

Background:

• Moxifloxacin (MFX) and linezolid (LZD) are crucial for treating multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (TB).
• Current dispersible tablet formulations of MFX and LZD exhibit poor palatability in pediatric populations.
• There is a critical need for child-friendly TB medication formulations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate children's palatability preferences for novel, child-friendly formulations of moxifloxacin and linezolid.
• To compare the acceptability of different flavor blends from two generic manufacturers.
• To inform the development of improved pediatric tuberculosis treatment options.

Main Methods:

• A randomized, cross-sectional 'swish-and-spit' taste panel study was conducted with 97 children for MFX and 96 for LZD.
• Participants (aged 5-17) ranked preferences and rated acceptability of three flavor variants per drug from two manufacturers.
• Data were analyzed using comparative statistics, including the Friedman test, stratified by age, sex, and ethnic group.

Main Results:

• Children significantly preferred novel moxifloxacin (MFX) blends over existing ones (P < 0.001 for both manufacturers).
• Despite preference, the most accepted MFX blend still had sub-optimal palatability.
• No clear preference emerged for either manufacturer's linezolid (LZD) blends; results were consistent across demographic groups.

Conclusions:

• Children's input is valuable for assessing palatability of pediatric TB drug formulations.
• Novel MFX formulation blends show promise and are recommended for further development.
• Overall palatability for both MFX and LZD formulations requires further optimization for pediatric use.