Straight talk with ... Agnès Saint Raymond

Abstract

Children require specific formulations of drugs to avoid risks of overdosing and inefficacy. And, with this in mind, earlier this year the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation gave nearly $10 million to the World Health Organization (WHO) to work with UNICEF to improve medicines for youngsters. Researchers have estimated that 50–90% of medicines for children have not been tested properly—a serious problem, given that roughly a third of the worldwide population is under age 18. The problem is a crucial one, according to Agnès Saint Raymond, head of the Scientific Advice, Paediatrics and Orphan Drugs sector, which handles applications to study medicines in children for the European Medicines Agency (EMEA). Saint Raymond has long advocated for children's health and worked with members of the European Parliament to draft and pass new legislation in 2006 to promote drug development in this area. She spoke with Genevive Bjorn about the future of medicines designed for youngsters.