September 18, 2014
Improving Medicines for Children in Canada
The Expert Panel on Therapeutic Products for Infants, Children, and Youth
Summary
Due to concerns about their vulnerability, children have historically been neglected in drug research and development, including clinical trials. But the reality is that children need medicines and are taking them. Data shows that each year, about half of Canadian children use at least one prescription drug. Much of this prescribing is done off-label (i.e., the prescription differs from the authorized use) or without adequate age-related information, a practice that may introduce unnecessary risk of harm to children who need medicine.Recognizing the importance of developing safe and effective medicines specifically for children, the Minister of Health, on behalf of Health Canada, asked the CCA to provide an evidence-based and authoritative assessment of the state of research and regulations leading to the approval of medicines for children, in Canada and abroad. The Panel, chaired by Dr. Stuart MacLeod, Professor of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, considered the current Canadian landscape, how drugs are used by children, the state of knowledge of clinical pharmacology, and lessons learned from international experiences. The Sponsor:Health Canada
