- Children are not small adults: the functions and maturity of their organs such as brain, liver and kidney can be very different from that of adults
- Consequently the effects of medicines on the body (pharmacodynamics) and/or the effects of the body on medicines (pharmacokinetics) can be very different too
- Current evidence suggests that calculating doses according to body size is inadequate and many other factors need to be taken into account
- The European Union has implemented legislation to promote the development of paediatric drugs, thereby protecting returns to those who develop drugs in this market
