Off-label medication use in rare pediatric diseases in the United States

Abstract

Many pediatric patients with rare diseases use drugs off-label due to limited data in pediatric patients. Off-label treatment remains an important public health issue for neonates, infants, children, and adolescents, especially for pediatric patients with rare diseases. For patients with rare diseases, the majority of medications have no or limited information in labelling for pediatric use. Children present unique considerations in clinical trials due to ethical and clinical concerns, which have limited and even discouraged testing of drugs in the pediatric population. Numerous legislative measures have been enacted to address barriers in pediatric drug testing. This research reviewed off-label medication use in rare pediatric diseases, evaluated recent medication uses in pediatric clinical practice, discussed key regulations for rare pediatric diseases, and summarized recent drug approvals for rare pediatric diseases. This study demonstrates the ongoing medical need for newly approved medications to treat pediatric rare diseases and revealed the positive impact of regulations from the Orphan Drug Act of 1983 to the Research to Accelerate Cures and Equity (RACE) for Children Act on drug development and off-label medication practice in rare pediatric disease management. This article provides informative historical background and current considerations of off-label use of medications in neonates, infants, children, and adolescents with rare diseases.