A mechanistic approach to understanding oral drug absorption in pediatrics: an overview of fundamentals.

The common phrase 'children are not little adults' is very true also in the field of oral drug administration and absorption. However, in practice, due to the little available data and lack of in-depth understanding, physicians may treat kids as if they were 'little adults', even without being aware of the potential differences and risks. With respect to drug discovery, research and development, an in-depth understanding of the various factors governing age-dependent absorption is crucial when trying to develop a pediatric-tailored oral drug product. In this paper we clarify the various mechanisms that may lead to age-dependent oral drug absorption, we provide an overview of the currently available data, and draw conclusions to the coming years.