Author: Kayla Korzekwinski

Innovative Study Designs Optimizing Clinical Pharmacology Research in Infants and Children

Posted on by Kayla Korzekwinski

The Journal of Clinical Pharmacology • October 2019

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Balevic SJ, Cohen-Wolkowiez M

Almost half of recent pediatric trials failed to achieve labeling indications, due in large part to inadequate study design. Therefore, innovative study methods are crucial to optimize trial design while also reducing the potential harms inherent with drug investigation. New and innovative study designs are imperative to address current clinical pharmacology gaps and to ensure future therapeutics are safe and effective for children.

Rifampin Pharmacokinetics and Safety in Preterm and Term Infants

Posted on by Kayla Korzekwinski

Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy • May 2019

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Smith PB, Cotten CM, Hudak ML, Sullivan JE, Poindexter BB, Cohen-Wolkowiez M, Boakye-Agyeman F, Lewandowski A, Anand R, Benjamin DK Jr, Laughon MM; Best Pharmaceuticals for Children Act—Pediatric Trials Network Steering Committee.

Rifampin is active against methicillin-resistant staphylococcal species and tuberculosis (TB). We performed a multicenter, prospective pharmacokinetic (PK) and safety study of intravenous rifampin in infants of <121 days postnatal age (PNA). We enrolled 27 infants; the median (range) gestational age was 26 weeks (23 to 41 weeks), and the median PNA was 10 days (0 to 84 days). We collected 102 plasma PK samples from 22 of the infants and analyzed safety data from all 27 infants. We analyzed the data using a population PK approach.

Surfactant Administration in Preterm Infants: Drug Development Opportunities

Posted on by Kayla Korzekwinski

The Journal of Pediatrics • May 2019

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Taylor G, Jackson W, Hornik CP, Koss A, Mantena S, Homsley K, Gattis B, Kudumu-Clavell M, Clark R, Smith PB, Laughon MM

This study evaluated how frequently surfactant is used off-label in preterm infants. The majority of surfactant given to preterm infants is administered off-label. The uptrend in administration via INSURE coincides with increased supporting evidence. The gap between FDA labeling and current clinic practice exemplifies an opportunity for label expansion, which may require additional prospective or retrospective safety and/or effectiveness data for infants of older GA and higher birth weight.

Pharmacokinetics of ticarcillin-clavulanate in premature infants

Posted on by Kayla Korzekwinski

British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology • May 2019

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Watt KM, Hornik CP, Balevic SJ, Mundakel G, Cotten CM, Harper B, Benjamin DK, Anand R, Laughon M, Smith PB, Cohen-Wolkowiez M; Best Pharmaceuticals for Children Act Pediatric Trials Network Steering Committee

Ticarcillin-clavulanate covers a broad spectrum of pathogens that are common in premature infants. In infants <30 weeks gestational age, pharmacokinetic data to guide ticarcillin-clavulanate dosing are lacking. This study enrolled premature infants <30 weeks gestational age, determined pharmacokinetic parameters, and performed dosing simulations to determine optimal dosing for ticarcillin-clavulanate.

Furosemide Exposure and Prevention of Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia in Premature Infants

Posted on by Kayla Korzekwinski

The Journal of Pediatrics • May 2019

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Greenberg RG, Gayam S, Savage D, Tong A, Gorham D, Sholomon A, Clark RH, Benjamin DK, Laughon M, Smith PB

The goal of this study was to evaluate the association between furosemide exposure and risk of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) for premature infants. More days of furosemide exposure between postnatal day 7 and 36 weeks was associated with decreased risk of BPD and a combined outcome of BPD or death.

Physiologically-Based Pharmacokinetic Modeling of Fluconazole Using Plasma and Cerebrospinal Fluid Samples From Preterm and Term Infants

Posted on by Kayla Korzekwinski

CPT: Pharmacometrics & Systems Pharmacology • May 2019

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Gerhart JG, Watt KM, Edginton A, Wade KC, Salerno SN, Benjamin DK, Smith PB, Hornik CP, Cohen-Wolkowiez M, Duara S, Ross A, Shattuck K, Stewart DL, Neu N, Gonzalez D, on behalf of the Best Pharmaceuticals for Children Act – Pediatric Trials Network Steering Committee

Fluconazole is used to treat hematogenous Candida meningoencephalitis in preterm and term infants. To characterize plasma and central nervous system exposure, an adult fluconazole physiologically-based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) model was scaled to infants, accounting for age dependencies in glomerular filtration and metabolism. Target attainment in plasma and CSF was reached faster after incorporating a loading dose of 25 mg/kg. PBPK modeling can be useful in exploring CNS kinetics of drugs in children.

Product Labeling of Drugs Commonly Administered to Children and Adults with Obesity

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Pharmaceutical Regulatory Affairs • April 2019

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Zimmerman KO, Benjamin DK ,Becker ML, Anand R, Hornik CP

Obesity is a major public health problem that can affect drug disposition and dosing, particularly in vulnerable pediatric populations. Despite potentially detrimental consequences from inappropriately dosed drugs in children with obesity, drug product labels largely fail to include dosing or guidance specific to this population. Using data from the PTN, this study explored possible ways to improve drug labeling in children with obesity.

Pharmacokinetics of Hydroxychloroquine in Pregnancies with Rheumatic Diseases

Posted on by Kayla Korzekwinski

Clinical Pharmacokinetics • April 2019

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Balevic SJ, Green TP, Clowse MEB, Eudy AM, Schanberg LE, Cohen-Wolkowiez M

 Hydroxychloroquine is an oral drug prescribed to pregnant women with rheumatic disease to reduce disease activity and prevent flares. Physiologic changes during pregnancy may substantially alter drug pharmacokinetics. However, the effect of pregnancy on hydroxychloroquine disposition and the potential need for dose adjustment remains virtually unknown. This study developed a one-compartment population-pharmacokinetic model for hydroxychloroquine in pregnant women with rheumatic disease.

Creation of a Multicenter Pediatric Inpatient Data Repository Derived from Electronic Health Records

Posted on by Kayla Korzekwinski

Applied Clinical Informatics Journal • March 2019

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Hornik CP, Atz AM, Bendel C, Chan F, Downes K, Grundmeier R, Fogel B, Gipson D, Laughon M, Miller M, Smith M, Livingston C, Kluchar C, Heath A, Jarrett C, McKerlie B, Patel H, Hunter C; Best Pharmaceuticals for Children Act Pediatric Trials Network

Integration of electronic health records (EHRs) data across sites and access to that data remain limited. This study developed an EHR-based pediatric inpatient repository using nine U.S. centers from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Pediatric Trials Network.

Sildenafil Exposure in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

Posted on by Kayla Korzekwinski

American Journal of Perinatology • February 2019

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Thompson EJ, Perez K, Hornik CP, Smith PB, Clark RH, Laughon M; Best Pharmaceuticals for Children Act—Pediatric Trials Network Steering Committee

Pulmonary hypertension causes substantial morbidity and mortality in infants. Although Food and Drug Administration approved to treat pulmonary arterial hypertension in adults, sildenafil is not approved for infants. This study sought to describe sildenafil exposure and associated diagnoses and outcomes in infants.