Journal of Pain Research (Jan 2021)
Outcomes of the Pediatric Development Plan of Tapentadol
Abstract
Mariëlle Eerdekens, Tatjana Radic, Melanie Sohns, Feras Khalil, Beata Bulawa, Christian Elling Grünenthal GmbH, Aachen, GermanyCorrespondence: Mariëlle EerdekensGrünenthal GmbH, Zieglerstraße 6, 52078 Aachen, GermanyTel +49 241 569 1090Email [email protected]: The opioid analgesic tapentadol was the first pain medication to be developed for the treatment of pain in children under a formal process established by the regulatory authorities. This article summarizes the outcomes of the pediatric development program for tapentadol across the entire age range from birth (including neonates) to adolescents < 18 years of age. In addition, the challenges experienced when designing and conducting the pediatric tapentadol clinical trials as well as the interactions with the regulatory authorities are discussed. As a first outcome, the oral solution of tapentadol was authorized in the EU in 2018 as a new treatment option in the hospital setting for moderate to severe acute pain in children from 2 to < 18 years of age.Keywords: pain, pediatric, regulations, tapentadol, review