Global child-friendly anti-TB medicines – where do we stand?

An increasing number of children are diagnosed and started on antituberculosis treatment. Despite progress in developing child-friendly antituberculosis formulations for drug-susceptible and drug-resistant TB, a single-medicine rifampicin dispersible tablet is still needed. Further, many child-friendly dispersible solid-tablet formulations are not available globally. Access challenges lead to formulation manipulation of adult tablets, including the development of extemporaneous solutions, supported by pharmacokinetic studies to dose young children. Preparing extemporaneous formulations need pharmacies and trained staff. Therefore, a need remains for global collaboration to prioritise child-friendly solid, dispersible, functionally scored TB formulations and to ensure equal access for all children with TB globally.