Pediatric Drug Therapy: Safety, Efficacy, and Personalized Medicine

A special issue of Pharmaceuticals (ISSN 1424-8247). This special issue belongs to the section "Pharmacology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 25 June 2025 | Viewed by 2129

Special Issue Editor


E-Mail Website1 Website2
Guest Editor
1. Department of Pediatrics and Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, Wright State University Boonshoft School of Medicine, Dayton, OH, USA
2. Internal Medicine, UWA Medical School, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia
Interests: clinical pharmacology; clinical toxicology; pharmacometrics; pediatric pharmacology; maternal-fetal pharmacology; population pharmacokinetics; interventional trials; optimal trial design

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Pediatric pharmacotherapy has unique problems owing to children's specific physiological features and developmental stages, which can markedly affect drug metabolism, effectiveness, and safety. Historically, several drugs have been administered to children without thorough pediatric-specific research, resulting in possible dangers and inadequate therapeutic results. Recent breakthroughs in pharmacogenomics and model-informed precision dosing have facilitated personalized medicine approaches in kids, seeking to customize therapies according to individual genetic profiles and unique requirements. This Special Issue investigates recent research and advancements in pediatric pharmacotherapy, emphasizing safety evaluations, effectiveness assessments, and customized medicine approaches. We solicit submissions that explore subjects including pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic research in pediatric populations, the influence of pharmacogenomics on drug response prediction, novel clinical trial methodologies for children, and case studies illustrating the effective application of personalized therapies in pediatric healthcare. By aggregating these findings, we want to improve the comprehension and implementation of safe and effective pharmacological treatments specifically designed for the pediatric demographic.

Prof. Dr. Catherine M. T. Sherwin
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • pediatric pharmacotherapy
  • drug safety in children
  • pediatric drug efficacy
  • personalized medicine in pediatrics
  • pediatric pharmacokinetics
  • pediatric pharmacodynamics
  • pharmacogenomics in children
  • pediatric clinical trials
  • pediatric dosing strategies
  • pediatric drug formulations

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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17 pages, 1981 KiB  
Article
Real-World Safety Profile of Proton Pump Inhibitors in Infants as Reported in the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS): Tiny Tummies, Key Decisions
by Hülya Tezel Yalçın, Nadir Yalçın and Karel Allegaert
Pharmaceuticals 2025, 18(5), 730; https://doi.org/10.3390/ph18050730 - 16 May 2025
Viewed by 337
Abstract
Background: Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are widely used for gastric acid suppression, yet their efficacy and safety in neonates and infants remain unclear. While esomeprazole is the only Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved PPI for neonates and infants under 1 year of [...] Read more.
Background: Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are widely used for gastric acid suppression, yet their efficacy and safety in neonates and infants remain unclear. While esomeprazole is the only Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved PPI for neonates and infants under 1 year of age, other PPIs are also frequently prescribed. Objectives: This study utilizes FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) data to evaluate potential adverse drug events (ADEs) of PPIs, providing crucial real-world insights into their safety in this vulnerable population. Methods: This observational cross-sectional study was conducted using an individual case safety report (ICSR) database. Only reports in neonates or infants receiving omeprazole, pantoprazole, lansoprazole, rabeprazole, or esomeprazole monotherapy were evaluated. The most frequently prescribed PPI, the most common indication, the most reported ADE, the seriousness of AEs, and the countries reporting the highest ADE number were analyzed using 2D disproportionality analyses (e.g., reporting odds ratio (RORs)). Results: A total of 464 patients were included; 323 (69.6%) of them were stated as serious and 15 (3.2%) of them were stated as time-related to mortality. Most of the ADEs were reported for lansoprazole (45.9%). The most reported PPI-associated ADE was vomiting (8.8%). According to the RORs analysis, vomiting associated with PPI monotherapy was more likely to occur (RORs: 2.88, 95% CI: 2.09–3.96), which is followed by diarrhea, hypertrichosis, choking, and erythema. Additionally, medication errors were reported in 50 (10.8%) patients. Conclusions: ICSR databases are valuable pharmacovigilance tools. The absence of access to a causality assessment is a limitation since it limits its ability to confirm whether the ADEs are truly caused by the suspected drug, mitigated using RORs analysis. Integrating neonatal-specific algorithms could enhance drug safety evaluations, strengthen evidence-based decision-making, and improve risk–benefit assessments in neonates and infants. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Pediatric Drug Therapy: Safety, Efficacy, and Personalized Medicine)
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19 pages, 483 KiB  
Systematic Review
Omalizumab and Oral Immunotherapy in IgE-Mediated Food Allergy in Children: A Systematic Review and a Meta-Analysis
by Enrico Vito Buono, Giuliana Giannì, Sara Scavone, Susanna Esposito and Carlo Caffarelli
Pharmaceuticals 2025, 18(3), 437; https://doi.org/10.3390/ph18030437 - 20 Mar 2025
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1392
Abstract
Background: Food allergies are a growing global health concern, particularly among children, with no widely approved curative treatment beyond strict allergen avoidance. Oral immunotherapy (OIT) has emerged as a promising strategy to induce desensitization, yet its implementation is limited due to high rates [...] Read more.
Background: Food allergies are a growing global health concern, particularly among children, with no widely approved curative treatment beyond strict allergen avoidance. Oral immunotherapy (OIT) has emerged as a promising strategy to induce desensitization, yet its implementation is limited due to high rates of allergic reactions and patient non-compliance. Omalizumab, a monoclonal anti-IgE antibody, has been proposed as an adjunct to OIT to enhance safety and efficacy. Objective: This systematic review and meta-analysis aim to evaluate the efficacy and safety of omalizumab in combination with OIT for IgE-mediated food allergy in children. Methods: A systematic literature search was conducted in PubMed/MEDLINE and Cochrane Central databases to identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs), controlled clinical trials (CCTs), and observational studies assessing omalizumab as an adjunct to OIT in pediatric food allergy. Studies were evaluated for desensitization rates, immunological changes, adverse events, and quality-of-life improvements. Results: OIT combined with omalizumab led to significantly higher rates of desensitization, allowing patients to tolerate higher doses of allergens in a shorter timeframe compared to OIT alone. Omalizumab was associated with a reduction in adverse reactions, including anaphylaxis, and improved treatment adherence. However, the long-term sustainability of tolerance post-omalizumab discontinuation remains uncertain. Conclusions: Omalizumab facilitates rapid and effective desensitization in pediatric food allergy, enhancing the safety of OIT. Further research is needed to determine optimal treatment duration, long-term outcomes, and cost-effectiveness before widespread clinical adoption. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Pediatric Drug Therapy: Safety, Efficacy, and Personalized Medicine)
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