List of Drugs for Which Pediatric Studies Are Needed

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is providing notice of the “List of Drugs for Which Pediatric Studies Are Needed.” The NIH developed the list in consultation with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and pediatric experts, as mandated by the Best Pharmaceuticals for Children Act. This list prioritizes certain drugs most in need of study for use by children to ensure their safety and efficacy. The NIH will update the list at least annually until the Act expires on October 1, 2007.

DATES:

The list is effective upon publication.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Dr. Perdita Taylor-Zapata, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), 6100 Executive Boulevard, Suite 4A-01, Bethesda, MD 20892-7510, e-mail taylorpe@mail.nih.gov or BestPharmaceuticals@mail.nih.gov, telephone 301-496-9584 (not a toll-free number).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

The NIH is providing notice of the “List of Drugs for Which Pediatric Studies Are Needed,” as authorized under Section 3, Pub. L. 107-109 (42 U.S.C. 409I). On January 4, 2002, President Bush signed into law the Best Pharmaceuticals for Children Act (BPCA). The BPCA mandates that not later than one year after the date of enactment, the NIH in consultation with the FDA and experts in pediatric research shall develop, prioritize, and publish an annual list of certain approved drugs for which pediatric studies are needed. For inclusion on the list, an approved drug must meet the following criteria: (1) There is an approved application under section 505(j) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 355(j)); (2) there is a submitted application that could be approved under the criteria of section 505(j) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act; (3) there is no patent protection or market exclusivity protection under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act; or (4) there is a referral for inclusion on the list under section 505A(d)(4)(c); and additional studies are needed to assess the safety and effectiveness of the use of the drug in the pediatric population. The BPCA further stipulates that in developing and prioritizing the list, the NIH shall consider, for each drug on the list: (1) The availability of information concerning the safe and effective use of the drug in the pediatric population; (2) whether additional information is needed; (3) whether new pediatric studies concerning the drug may produce health benefits in the pediatric population; and (4) whether reformulation of the drug is necessary. For this year, we are providing an update on all of the drugs listed since the enactment of BPCA and a brief status report on each of the drugs (see Table 1).

As previously stated, NICHD and the FDA have reviewed the progress of the drugs currently listed under BPCA in addition to a review of the entire listing process since its inception. There are drugs listed that are currently considered inactive or are being reconsidered due to multiple factors. Many of the factors for reconsideration are based on feasibility issues related to clinical trial design and the overall conduct of a study with that particular drug and/or indication—such as frequency of condition, statistical power, and safety. A drug may also be considered inactive if there has been a change in patent status since its original listing. These drugs will continue to be reevaluated throughout the year and an update will be provided no later than January 2007.

Upon review of the BPCA listing process and based on our goal of improving pediatric therapeutics, NIH and FDA have decided to change our listing system to a therapeutic class-based approach. We believe that this approach will allow us to compare drugs within a therapeutic class (on- and off-patent) and give a broader description for the availability and use of these drugs in children. This will also allow us to obtain focused expertise in therapeutic areas that will subsequently give us more insight into feasibility and study designs. We drafted and categorized a preliminary list of drugs for the 2006 Priority List based on the newly developed condition-based approach in an effort to identify areas in pediatrics that may contain gaps in knowledge in the area of therapeutic options. In developing this list, the NIH consulted with the FDA and experts in pediatric research and practice. The following are the conditions and the drugs discussed in our November 8-9, 2005, scientific meeting with experts in pediatric research and determined to need more scientific evidence before studies can be conducted in children: Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Hypertension, Parasitic Diseases, Influenza, Cancer, Poisonings, and Sickle Cell Anemia. The drugs thought to be effective for treatment in each of these conditions were then prioritized based on the potential for providing a health benefit in the general pediatric population.

ADHD was identified as a therapeutic area of interest because of its tremendous impact on the use of psychotropic medications in children—remaining the most commonly diagnosed behavioral disorder of childhood. Clonidine and Guanfacine were discussed as off-patent drugs that require further information in children. We determined that we need further discussion with the primary care and mental health communities to determine if studies of these agents are warranted for the treatment of ADHD or if the primary use of these agents is as adjunctive agents because of their sedative properties. In 2005, NICHD learned of a published report in Cancer Letters discussing possible cytogenetic effects in children treated with Methylphenidate (Cytogenetic effects in children treated with methylphenidate, El-Zein, R. et al., Cancer Letters xx (2005), 1-8.). NICHD developed a partnership with the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, the National Institute of Mental Health, the National Center for Toxicology Research, and the FDA to further evaluate this finding.

Hypertension was identified as a therapeutic area of interest due to the recent “Fourth Report on the Diagnosis, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Pressure in Children and Adolescents,” published in Pediatrics in 2004, which identified a need to determine a treatment strategy for high blood pressure in children, especially with the increasing epidemic of obesity and obesity-related diseases in this country. The therapeutic drugs class of Diuretics (Bumetanide, Furosemide, Hydrochlorothiazide, Spironolactone) were discussed as off-patent drugs that require further information in children. It was determined that we need further discussion with the pediatric experts involved in the development of the “Fourth Report” to determine if, and how, this particular class of drugs is used in primary pediatric hypertension and how a clinical study might be structured to address the complex issues that have recently arisen, such as obesity-related hypertension, in the diagnosis and treatment of this disease.

Parasitic Diseases was identified as a therapeutic area of interest due to the tremendous impact on morbidity and mortality that these diseases have in children worldwide. Albendazole and Mebendazole were discussed as off-patent drugs that require further information in children. It was determined that we need to consult with domestic (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) and foreign sources (World Health Organization) and other areas where these agents are predominantly monitored and used to obtain safety information. It was also determined that a liquid formulation of Albendazole would be advantageous for children of developing countries, in whom these diseases occur more often.

Influenza was identified as a therapeutic area of interest because of the emerging threat of pandemic flu and the lack of dosing and efficacy data in our most vulnerable pediatric population—children less than 1 year of age. Amantidine and Rimantidine were discussed as off-patent drugs that require further information in children. It was determined that we need more information on the effectiveness of these drugs to provide additional insight into the use of these agents in the population of children less than 1 year of age.

Cancer has been identified as an ongoing therapeutic area of interest because of the extensive morbidity and mortality that this disease continues to exhibit in pediatric patients of all ages.

Poisoning was identified as a therapeutic area of interest due to the fact that injuries and poisonings remain as one of the top 5 conditions that lead to the highest morbidity and mortality in young children and adolescents.

Sickle Cell Anemia was identified as a therapeutic area of interest because of the extensive morbidity caused by, and paucity of treatment options for, this disease.

The following are the conditions and drugs discussed in our November 8-9, 2005, scientific meeting with experts in pediatric research. We will add these conditions and drugs to the 2006 priority list for which pediatric studies are most urgently needed, along with their indications for use:

Treatment of Pediatric Cancers: Methotrexate and Daunomycin

There is an urgent need for information regarding the pharmacokinetics and toxicity of daunomycin in obese children. There is an urgent need to evaluate the neurotoxicity and long-term cognitive outcomes of children receiving methotrexate.

Treatment of Sickle Cell Anemia: Hydroxyurea

There is an urgent need for further pharmacokinetic and long-term safety data in the use of this drug in children with sickle cell anemia.

Treatment of Organophosphate Poisoning: Pralidoxime

There is an urgent need for further dosing information of the use of this drug in children.

For the coming year, NICHD is planning a series of discussions with experts in the field of pediatric cancers (NCI/COG), pediatric infectious diseases, emergency care in pediatrics (PECARN), pediatric-based research networks (PBRN), pediatric hypertension, and pediatric psychiatry, in addition to our ongoing discussions with the other NIH Institutes and Centers. The goal of these discussions will be to specifically identify current gaps in scientific knowledge regarding research and treatment of these various pediatric conditions, with the ultimate goal of determining future approved drugs for which pediatric studies are needed. NICHD will continue scientific discussions and planning throughout 2006 and will provide an update in January 2007.