EPTRI Article: MD Development for children and young people: Reviewing the Challenges and Opportunities
The Article “Medical Device Development for Children and Young People—Reviewing the Challenges and Opportunities” has been published in Pharmaceutics as part of the Special Issue Scientific Highlights in the First European Paediatric Translational Research Infrastructure Open Meeting.
The paper provides evidence on the need specific medical devices (MDs) development is required to meet the healthcare needs of children and young people (CYP). It highlights a number of technology areas that have led to successful paediatric MD, including 3D printing, advanced materials, drug delivery, and diagnostic imaging.
In this context, MD development should address changes in growth and psychosocial maturation, physiology, and pathophysiology, and avoid inappropriate repurposing of adult technologies. Underpinning the development of MD for CYP is the need to ensure MD safety and effectiveness through paediatric MD-specific regulations.
To ensure the targeted development of MD for CYP, collaboration across multiple professional disciplines is required, facilitated by a platform to foster collaboration and drive innovation. The European Paediatric Translational Research Infrastructure (EPTRI) will be established as the European platform to support collaboration, including the life sciences industrial sector, to identify unmet needs in child health and support the development, adoption, and commercialization of paediatric MDs.
The article has been created by EPTRI members and the authors conclude that regulatory and funding bodies need to keep pace with this rapidly expanding field, ensuring a patient-centric approach that safeguards younger patients.
Read the article here.