Work

Advanced drug delivery and PBPK modelling as translational tools for precision therapies in juvenile idiopathic arthritis

Year: 2026

Type: review

Abstract: Patients with persistent forms of juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) often report limited therapeutic benefit from currently available treatments. Despite substantial advances in the management of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and related disorders over recent decades, treatment strategies for JIA remain insufficiently defined. The application of advanced drug delivery systems holds promise in addressing these limitations by enabling controlled and sustained drug release over extended periods. Other integrative approaches such as novel physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) modelling have demonstrated to be a critical tool in optimizing pharmacotherapy in pediatric populations, particularly by improving dose selection and predicting drug disposition. This review summarizes current disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) for JIA management and critically examines the current, still largely prospective, integration of emerging drug delivery systems with PBPK modelling, highlighting existing translational examples alongside key opportunities and challenges for precision therapies in this field.

Source: Frontiers in Pharmacology

DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2026.1917187