Current status of research on and approval of anti-epileptic drugs for children at home and abroad and its enlightenment for China

To provide auxiliary decision-making support to improve incentive policies for pediatric drug development and approval, we systematically review the current status of research on and approval of anti-epileptic drugs (AEDs) for children at home and abroad, and comprehensively analyze the existing barriers in China’s pediatric AED development and market approval process. Findings reveal that China lags behind some countries and regions included in this comparative study (United State of America, European Union, Japan and Australia, etc.) in terms of research and development (R&D) capability and progress in pediatric AEDs, with significant disparity in the diversity of approved drugs, formulations, and dosage forms. It is recommended that China enhance its policy support for R&D, optimize the drug evaluation and approval system, strengthen the management of drug allocation and utilization, promote rational drug use, reinforce post-marketing incentive policies and help foster a more favorable policy environment for the development and approval of pediatric medications.