- Drugs companies must focus more on the needs of children
when developing new medicines, the health minister Lord Warner said today.
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- Launching a new paediatric medicines strategy, Lord Warner
said he hoped it would send a "strong message" to pharmaceutical
companies that they had a duty to research and develop medicines geared
specifically to children's needs.
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- The move follows warnings from an expert working group
of the government's committee on the safety of medicine (CSM) that a group
of anti-depressant drugs known as SSRIs - selective serotonin reuptake
inhibitors - which includes the best-selling Seroxat, should not be given
to children. There was a risk that children taking the drugs might become
suicidal and aggressive or suffer mood swings, the experts found.
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- Most medicines are designed for and tested on adults,
although they may be widely prescribed for children. Treatments that are
effective in adults may not be suitable for juveniles.
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- Plans under the new strategy include the creation of
a separate British National Formulary for children - similar to the existing
British National Formulary which gives healthcare professionals up-to-date
information about the impact of medicines.
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- The paediatric medicines strategy aims to encourage drugs
companies to provide much better data on clinical trials with children
for new and existing medicines. It will also include measures to improve
patient information leaflets so that they offer better information on the
effects of certain medicines on children.
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- Part of the £100m allocated for medical research
in the chancellor's budget will also be used to promote research on drugs
for children, which will be co-ordinated by the UK Clinical Research Collaboration.
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- Lord Warner said: "Until now there hasn't been enough
emphasis on developing medicines specifically for use in children, and
the UK has led the way in pushing for change in this area.
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- "Work is in progress on a British National Formulary
for children and we will provide funding for its publication and distribution
as soon as it is ready. I want the new strategy that I have announced today
to give a strong message to pharmaceutical companies to focus on the needs
of children when developing new medicines.
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- "Health professionals need the latest information
so that they can make the right choices about the medicines and treatments
for their younger patients, and that is why the new British National Formulary
for children is so important."
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- The British National Formulary (BNF), which is jointly
published by the British Medical Association and the Royal Pharmaceutical
Society of Great Britain, welcomed the announcement, particularly the commitment
to fund a similar guide for children. The advisory for healthcare professionals
is expected to be produced in print and electronic formats in June next
year and will be updated annually.
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- Ian Costello, editor of the BNF for children, said: "The
use of medicines in children is particularly complex. Because many medicines
are not licensed for use in children, healthcare professionals currently
have to rely on a variety of non-standard resources. Selecting the right
medicine and calculating the right dose for a child can be particularly
problematic and can make treatment more difficult.
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- "Healthcare professionals need clear, reliable and
up-to-date information to inform prescribing decisions. The BNF for children
is a crucial step towards helping them make the best decisions for their
younger patients."
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- Guardian Unlimited © Guardian Newspapers Limited
2004
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- http://www.guardian.co.uk/medicine/story/0,11381,1284890,00.html
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