Children are not miniature adults. They respond differently to treatment and have to follow individualised treatment plans designed specifically for them, because children of different ages can require different dosages. Furthermore, they are still growing, and care must be taken to ensure that treatment does not affect this process, or as little as possible.
For that reason, and for the fact that there are diseases that only appear in childhood, it is essential to carry out studies and clinical trials that test the efficacy and safety of medications in the younger population. Additionally, they help to find treatments in the fight against childhood disease.
The SJD Barcelona Children's Hospital has the first Clinical Trials Unit in Spain that focuses on pediatric patients. There are currently 218 trials in progress and 77 observational studies.