New medicines for childhood-onset systemic lupus erythematosus: an EU perspective on paediatric drug development

Childhood-onset systemic lupus erythematosus (cSLE, also known as juvenile or paediatric SLE) is a severe autoimmune disease affecting multiple organs and systems, with higher morbidity and severity compared to adult SLE (aSLE). The European Union’s Paediatric Regulation No. 1901/2006 mandates the a...

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Main Authors: Roberto De Lisa, Fernando de Andres-Trelles, Ralph Bax, Sara Galluzzo, Brian Alward, Andrew Thomson, Dominik Karres, Hermine I. Brunner, Nicolino Ruperto, Gunter F. Egger
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-07-01
Series:Frontiers in Medicine
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmed.2025.1583140/full
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author Roberto De Lisa
Fernando de Andres-Trelles
Fernando de Andres-Trelles
Ralph Bax
Sara Galluzzo
Sara Galluzzo
Brian Alward
Brian Alward
Andrew Thomson
Dominik Karres
Hermine I. Brunner
Nicolino Ruperto
Nicolino Ruperto
Gunter F. Egger
author_facet Roberto De Lisa
Fernando de Andres-Trelles
Fernando de Andres-Trelles
Ralph Bax
Sara Galluzzo
Sara Galluzzo
Brian Alward
Brian Alward
Andrew Thomson
Dominik Karres
Hermine I. Brunner
Nicolino Ruperto
Nicolino Ruperto
Gunter F. Egger
author_sort Roberto De Lisa
collection DOAJ
description Childhood-onset systemic lupus erythematosus (cSLE, also known as juvenile or paediatric SLE) is a severe autoimmune disease affecting multiple organs and systems, with higher morbidity and severity compared to adult SLE (aSLE). The European Union’s Paediatric Regulation No. 1901/2006 mandates the agreement of a paediatric investigation plan (PIP) for new investigational medicinal products (IMPs) to ensure reliable efficacy and safety data for paediatric indications. This study examined the experience of the Paediatric Committee (PDCO) at the European Medicines Agency (EMA) in assessing PIPs for cSLE, highlighting the challenges and potential solutions in the planning of development of novel agents in this disease and providing the academia point of view on key points of cSLE medicines development. Regulatory requirements so far have been rather consistent when a PIP is agreed, and recommend randomised controlled trials to enable a full benefit-risk assessment. However, PIPs are agreed when adult efficacy data are not yet available and as soon as the product lifecycle progresses, new methods and approaches can offer some advantages over randomised controlled trials in this setting and might provide a comparable level of evidence of efficacy in an alternative way. Extrapolation of adult efficacy data to paediatrics is one possible approach, provided that adult trials produce data that can be used for this purpose and that the degree of residual uncertainty is appropriately quantified for the medicinal product in question. The study also highlights the value of enhanced international cooperation among regulatory authorities, developers, and academic institutions in this field to support collaborative efforts among various stakeholders.
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spelling doaj-art-34907a04cdcb4d0383cf0d3e12911da32025-08-20T03:28:48ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Medicine2296-858X2025-07-011210.3389/fmed.2025.15831401583140New medicines for childhood-onset systemic lupus erythematosus: an EU perspective on paediatric drug developmentRoberto De Lisa0Fernando de Andres-Trelles1Fernando de Andres-Trelles2Ralph Bax3Sara Galluzzo4Sara Galluzzo5Brian Alward6Brian Alward7Andrew Thomson8Dominik Karres9Hermine I. Brunner10Nicolino Ruperto11Nicolino Ruperto12Gunter F. Egger13Paediatric Medicines Office, European Medicines Agency (EMA), Amsterdam, NetherlandsPaediatric Committee (PDCO), European Medicines Agency (EMA), Amsterdam, NetherlandsUniversidad Complutense de Madrid, Departamento de Farmacología y Toxicología, Madrid, SpainPaediatric Medicines Office, European Medicines Agency (EMA), Amsterdam, NetherlandsPaediatric Committee (PDCO), European Medicines Agency (EMA), Amsterdam, NetherlandsBambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), Rome, ItalyPaediatric Committee (PDCO), European Medicines Agency (EMA), Amsterdam, NetherlandsHealth Products Regulatory Authority, Dublin, IrelandMethodology Workstream, European Medicines Agency (EMA), Amsterdam, NetherlandsPaediatric Medicines Office, European Medicines Agency (EMA), Amsterdam, NetherlandsPediatric Rheumatology Collaborative Study Group Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, United StatesFondazione Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS) San Gerardo dei Tintori, Pediatria/Paediatric Rheumatology International Trials Organisation (PRINTO), Monza, ItalyUniversità degli Studi di Milano-Bicocca, Dipartimento di Medicina e Chirurgia, Milan, ItalyPaediatric Medicines Office, European Medicines Agency (EMA), Amsterdam, NetherlandsChildhood-onset systemic lupus erythematosus (cSLE, also known as juvenile or paediatric SLE) is a severe autoimmune disease affecting multiple organs and systems, with higher morbidity and severity compared to adult SLE (aSLE). The European Union’s Paediatric Regulation No. 1901/2006 mandates the agreement of a paediatric investigation plan (PIP) for new investigational medicinal products (IMPs) to ensure reliable efficacy and safety data for paediatric indications. This study examined the experience of the Paediatric Committee (PDCO) at the European Medicines Agency (EMA) in assessing PIPs for cSLE, highlighting the challenges and potential solutions in the planning of development of novel agents in this disease and providing the academia point of view on key points of cSLE medicines development. Regulatory requirements so far have been rather consistent when a PIP is agreed, and recommend randomised controlled trials to enable a full benefit-risk assessment. However, PIPs are agreed when adult efficacy data are not yet available and as soon as the product lifecycle progresses, new methods and approaches can offer some advantages over randomised controlled trials in this setting and might provide a comparable level of evidence of efficacy in an alternative way. Extrapolation of adult efficacy data to paediatrics is one possible approach, provided that adult trials produce data that can be used for this purpose and that the degree of residual uncertainty is appropriately quantified for the medicinal product in question. The study also highlights the value of enhanced international cooperation among regulatory authorities, developers, and academic institutions in this field to support collaborative efforts among various stakeholders.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmed.2025.1583140/fullpaediatric systemic lupus erythematosuschildhood systemic lupus erythematosuspaediatric extrapolationpaediatric drug developmentpaediatric medicine developmentEuropean Medicines Agency
spellingShingle Roberto De Lisa
Fernando de Andres-Trelles
Fernando de Andres-Trelles
Ralph Bax
Sara Galluzzo
Sara Galluzzo
Brian Alward
Brian Alward
Andrew Thomson
Dominik Karres
Hermine I. Brunner
Nicolino Ruperto
Nicolino Ruperto
Gunter F. Egger
New medicines for childhood-onset systemic lupus erythematosus: an EU perspective on paediatric drug development
Frontiers in Medicine
paediatric systemic lupus erythematosus
childhood systemic lupus erythematosus
paediatric extrapolation
paediatric drug development
paediatric medicine development
European Medicines Agency
title New medicines for childhood-onset systemic lupus erythematosus: an EU perspective on paediatric drug development
title_full New medicines for childhood-onset systemic lupus erythematosus: an EU perspective on paediatric drug development
title_fullStr New medicines for childhood-onset systemic lupus erythematosus: an EU perspective on paediatric drug development
title_full_unstemmed New medicines for childhood-onset systemic lupus erythematosus: an EU perspective on paediatric drug development
title_short New medicines for childhood-onset systemic lupus erythematosus: an EU perspective on paediatric drug development
title_sort new medicines for childhood onset systemic lupus erythematosus an eu perspective on paediatric drug development
topic paediatric systemic lupus erythematosus
childhood systemic lupus erythematosus
paediatric extrapolation
paediatric drug development
paediatric medicine development
European Medicines Agency
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmed.2025.1583140/full
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