No rare pediatric drugs without incentives

WASHINGTON, Jan. 21 (UPI) -- The Creating Hope Act being considered in Congress would provide a financial incentive to stimulate pediatric drug development, a U.S. researchers says.

Children make up nearly 40 percent of the world's population but there is little research to test the effects of "adult therapies" on children, especially cancer drugs, Dr. Edward Connor of the Children's National Medical Center in Washington, says in a commentary published in Science Translational Medicine.

Pediatric specialists frequently prescribe drugs for children "off-label" -- not intended for use in children -- because many common drugs and devices for treating diseases are only tested in adults, Connor says.

However, research has repeatedly shown that some drugs and devices for adults can affect children differently, Conner says.

The Creating Hope Act updates the existing Priority Voucher for Neglected Diseases Program, which officers incentives to creating drugs for neglected disease that serve relatively small numbers that are often not profitable.

"Incentive programs like the Creating Hope Act and other approaches designed to motivate drug development for children are also needed," Connor says.

The demand for pediatric drugs, especially those for rare diseases like childhood cancer, is relatively low compared to the demand for adult drugs, as fewer children develop rare and serious illnesses. To maximize efficacy and return on investment, pharmaceutical developers sometimes focus their efforts on therapeutics that address illnesses common to larger populations.