AGePOP — Drug Absorption in Geriatric Patients and Older People: a training network innovating drug development for the advanced age population

Results in brief

Drug Absorption in Geriatric Patients and Older People: a training network innovating drug development for the advanced age population

There are almost 91 million people aged 65 or over in Europe. They make up the advanced age population, and represent 20% of the total European population. Older age is accompanied by an increase in the number and complexity of illnesses, including that of chronic diseases, making the advanced age population the key end-users of oral drugs. Yet, these end-users are disregarded in the drug development process. Clinical evaluation of oral formulations is typically carried out on healthy adults aged 18-55 and do not take into account the changed physiological needs of older people and geriatric patients. In Europe’s ageing society, the amount of people aged 65 or over is expected to grow to almost 130 million by 2050. Regulatory agencies such as the European Medicines Agency (EMA) are starting to prioritise this pressing issue, confirming the need for safe and effective drugs for the advanced age population. AGePOP, a EU-funded H2020 project on Drug Absorption in Geriatric Patients and Older People, will lay the foundation of oral drug product development focusing on the advanced age population. As a research and training network, AGePOP brings together 13 organisations from 5 European countries, with leading experts in oral drug absorption and development, clinical research and practice, mentoring and training.

Data: CORDIS, © European Union

Project objective

The advanced age population (>65y) makes up ~20% of the total population in Europe, is the main carrier of chronic diseases and the major end-user group of medications. Yet, despite an ageing society, these end-users are entirely disregarded in the drug development process, which considers only healthy adults aged 18-55. Effective absorption of oral drugs, which remain the preferred form of administration, relies on a sound knowledge of the physiological alterations associated with ageing and of the characteristics of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract in older subjects. Nonetheless, both the knowledge and the experts in this area are lacking. The AGePOP European Training Network (ETN) will boost Europe’s innovation capacity and leadership in oral drug development. Its multisectoral approach will train 11 Early Stage Researchers (ESRs) to become the future experts in drug development for the advanced age population, shedding a much needed light on the needs of our ageing society. With an open science philosophy and a multidisciplinary strategy, the ESRs will collect the first ever dataset of physiological characteristics of the GI tract of older people and geriatric patients, developing novel in vitro and in silico tools, e.g. a mobile test kit to evaluate gastric emptying kinetics and an absorption risk calculator to predict adverse effects from altered pharmacokinetics. Complementary training in transferable, business and wider horizon skills will equip the ESRs with an all-rounded skillset. AGePOP is a network of 6 Beneficiaries and 7 Partner Organisations from 5 European countries. Its 3 academic partners with research excellence in oral drug products synergise with renowned clinicians and researchers from 8 leading pharma companies and 1 SME specialised in ETN training. Building on long-standing collaborations, the consortium will provide 11 ESRs with a unique Europe-wide learning experience, preparing them to lead their future careers with confidence and success.

Original text from CORDIS.

Participants

ETHNIKO KAI KAPODISTRIAKO PANEPISTIMIO ATHINON · ATHINACoordinatorGreece
BAYER AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT · LeverkusenGermany
F. HOFFMANN-LA ROCHE AG · BaselSwitzerland
KATHOLIEKE UNIVERSITEIT LEUVEN · LeuvenBelgium
MERCK HEALTHCARE KGAA · DarmstadtGermany
UNIVERSITAET GREIFSWALD · GreifswaldGermany

AGePOP · Drug Absorption in Geriatric Patients and Older People: a training network innovating drug development for the advanced age population

Results in brief

Drug Absorption in Geriatric Patients and Older People: a training network innovating drug development for the advanced age population

Project objective

Participants

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