Children (2-11 years)

Population Pharmacokinetics of Intramuscular and Intravenous Ketamine in Children

Posted on by Kayla Korzekwinski

The Journal of Clinical Pharmacology • April 2018

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Hornik CP, Gonzalez D, van den Anker J, Atz AM, Yogev R, Poindexter BB, Ng KC, Delmore P, Harper BL, Melloni C, Lewandowski A, Gelber C, Cohen-Wolkowiez M, Lee JH; Pediatric Trial Network Steering Committee.

Ketamine is an N-methyl D-aspartate receptor antagonist used off-label to facilitate dissociative anesthesia in children undergoing invasive procedures. Available for both intravenous and intramuscular administration, ketamine is commonly used when vascular access is limited. Pharmacokinetic (PK) data in children are sparse, and the bioavailability of intramuscular ketamine in children is unknown.

Obese Children Require Lower Doses of Pantoprazole Than Nonobese Peers to Achieve Equal Systemic Drug Exposures

Posted on by Kayla Korzekwinski

The Journal of Pediatrics • February 2018

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Shakhnovich V, Smith PB, Guptill JT, James LP, Collier DN, Wu H, Livingston CE, Zhao J, Kearns GL; Best Pharmaceuticals for Children Act – Pediatric Trials Network.

To assess appropriate pantoprazole dosing for obese children, we conducted a prospective pharmacokinetics (PK) investigation of pantoprazole in obese children, a patient population that is traditionally excluded from clinical trials. A total of 41 obese children (6-17 years of age), genotyped for CYP2C19 variants *2, *3, *4, and *17, received a single oral dose of pantoprazole, ~1.2 mg/kg lean body weight (LBW), with LBW calculated via a validated formula.

Population Pharmacokinetics of Trimethoprim-Sulfamethoxazole in Infants and Children

Posted on by Kayla Korzekwinski

Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy • December 2017

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Autmizguine J, Melloni C, Hornik CP, Dallefeld S, Harper B, Yogev R, Sullivan JE, Atz AM, Al-Uzri A, Mendley S, Poindexter B, Mitchell J, Lewandowski A, Delmore P, Cohen-Wolkowiez M, Gonzalez D; the Pediatric Trials Network Steering Committee.

Trimethoprim (TMP)-sulfamethoxazole (SMX) is used to treat various types of infections, including community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA) and Pneumocystis jirovecii infections in children. Pharmacokinetic (PK) data for infants and children are limited, and the optimal dosing is not known. We performed a multicenter, prospective PK study of TMP-SMX in infants and children.

Population Pharmacokinetics and Exploratory Pharmacodynamics of Lorazepam in Pediatric Status Epilepticus

Posted on by Kayla Korzekwinski

Clinical Pharmacokinetics • August 2017

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Gonzalez D, Chamberlain JM, Guptill JT, Cohen-Wolkowiez M, Harper B, Zhao J, Capparelli EV; Best Pharmaceuticals for Children Act – Pediatric Trials Network Steering Committee.

Lorazepam is one of the preferred agents used for intravenous treatment of status epilepticus (SE). We combined data from two pediatric clinical trials to characterize the population pharmacokinetics of intravenous lorazepam in infants and children aged 3 months to 17 years with active SE or a history of SE.

Pharmacokinetics of Clindamycin in Obese and Nonobese Children

Posted on by Kayla Korzekwinski

Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy • March 2017

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Smith MJ, Gonzalez D, Goldman JL, Yogev R, Sullivan JE, Reed MD, Anand R, Martz K, Berezny K, Benjamin DK Jr, Smith PB, Cohen-Wolkowiez M, Watt K; Best Pharmaceuticals for Children Act—Pediatric Trials Network Steering Committee.

Although obesity is prevalent among children in the United States, pharmacokinetic (PK) data for obese children are limited. Clindamycin is a commonly used antibiotic that may require dose adjustment in obese children due to its lipophilic properties. We performed a clindamycin population PK analysis using data from three separate trials. A total of 420 samples from 220 children, 76 of whom had a body mass index greater than or equal to the 95th percentile for age, were included in the analysis. Compared to other metrics, total body weight (TBW) was the most robust measure of body size.

Pharmacologic studies in vulnerable populations – using the pediatric experience

Posted on by Kayla Korzekwinski

Seminars in Perinatology • November 2016

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Zimmerman K, Gonzalez D, Swamy GK, Cohen-Wolkowiez M
Historically, few data exist to guide dosing in children and pregnant women. Multiple barriers to inclusion of these vulnerable populations in clinical trials have led to this paucity of data. Given the similar barriers to drug research and development in pediatric and pregnant populations, the route toward success in children may serve as a model for the advancement of drug development and appropriate drug administration in pregnant women.

Exposure Matching of Pediatric Anti-infective Drugs: Review of Drugs Submitted to the Food and Drug Administration for Pediatric Approval

Posted on by Kayla Korzekwinski

Clinical Therapeutics • September 2016

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Zimmerman K, Putera M, Hornik CP, Smith PB, Benjamin DK Jr, Mulugeta Y, Burckart GJ, Cohen-Wolkowiez M, Gonzalez D

We sought to determine the extent of exposure matching, defined by a comparison of area under the concentration-time curve, between children and adults, for anti-infective drug products submitted to the FDA for approval.

Optimizing operational efficiencies in early phase trials: The Pediatric Trials Network experience

Posted on by Kayla Korzekwinski

Contemporary Clinical Trials • March 2016

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England A, Wade K, Smith PB, Berezny K, Laughon M; Best Pharmaceuticals for Children Act — Pediatric Trials Network Administrative Core Committee.

Performing drug trials in pediatrics is challenging. In support of the Best Pharmaceuticals for Children Act, the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development funded the formation of the Pediatric Trials Network (PTN) in 2010. Since its inception, the PTN has developed strategies to increase both efficiency and safety of pediatric drug trials. Through use of innovative techniques such as sparse and scavenged blood sampling as well as opportunistic study design, participation in trials has grown. The PTN has also strived to improve consistency of adverse event reporting in neonatal drug trials through the development of a standardized adverse event table. We review how the PTN is optimizing operational efficiencies in pediatric drug trials to increase the safety of drugs in children.

Pharmacokinetics and bioequivalence of a liquid formulation of hydroxyurea in children with sickle cell anemia

Posted on by Kayla Korzekwinski

The Journal of Clinical Pharmacology • March 2016

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Estepp JH, Melloni C, Thornburg CD, Wiczling P, Rogers Z, Rothman JA, Green NS, Liem R, Brandow AM, Crary SE, Howard TH, Morris MH, Lewandowski A, Garg U, Jusko WJ, Neville KA; Best Pharmaceuticals for Children Act-Pediatric Trials Network Administrative Core Committee.

Hydroxyurea (HU) is a crucial therapy for children with sickle cell anemia, but its off-label use is a barrier to widespread acceptance. We found HU exposure is not significantly altered by liquid vs capsule formulation, and weight-based dosing schemes provide consistent exposure. HU is recommended for all children starting as young as 9 months of age with sickle cell anemia; however; a paucity of pediatric data exists regarding the pharmacokinetics (PK) or the exposure-response relationship of HU.

Vancomycin Cerebrospinal Fluid Pharmacokinetics in Children with Cerebral Ventricular Shunt Infections

Posted on by Kayla Korzekwinski

The Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal • October 2015

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Autmizguine J, Moran C, Gonzalez D, Capparelli EV, Smith PB, Grant GA, Benjamin DK Jr, Cohen-Wolkowiez M, Watt KM.
This study described the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) exposure of vancomycin in 8 children prescribed intravenous vancomycin therapy for cerebral ventricular shunt infection.