Science AI Journal
Medicine · Research topic

Open research questions in Pharmaceutical studies and practices

80 unresolved questions extracted from the limitations and future-work sections of 532 Pharmaceutical studies and practices papers in our library. Each links back to the study that raised it.

What the literature leaves open

  • Long-term safety data on tirzepatide for weight management are still being collected, - Further studies on the safety profile of tirzepatide are needed

    Real-World Safety Concerns of Tirzepatide: A Retrospective Analysis of FAERS Data (2022–2025) · 2025 · DOI

  • Limited real-world safety data on tirzepatide. Lack of long-term safety data on tirzepatide for weight management. Need for enhanced provider and patient education, clearer dosing guidelines, and proactive monitoring.

    Real-World Safety Concerns of Tirzepatide: A Retrospective Analysis of FAERS Data (2022–2025) · 2025 · DOI

  • Further prospective, multicenter cohort studies are warranted to validate these findings and improve DDI management strategies in neonatal populations.

    Evaluation of potential drug-drug interactions in the neonatal intensive care unit with two different decision support software: a retrospective study · 2025 · DOI

  • Background/aims: Due to a lack of standard pediatric prescribing information, medicines are often used in a dosage form or for an indication that has not been investigated in children.

    Partnership of I-ACT for children (US) and European pediatric clinical trial networks to facilitate pediatric clinical trials · 2024 · DOI

  • Further studies should investigate the effects of tablet splitting on patient outcomes. Further studies should evaluate the quality control parameters of tablets from different manufacturers.

    Exploring the Practice and Implications of Tablet Splitting in Pharmaceutical Care · 2026 · DOI

  • There is a lack of research on the effects of tablet splitting on the quality control parameters of alprazolam tablets. There is a need for regulatory guidelines and patient education to ensure safe and effective tablet splitting practices.

    Exploring the Practice and Implications of Tablet Splitting in Pharmaceutical Care · 2026 · DOI

  • The lack of characterization of piperacillin pharmacokinetics in children after liver transplantation. The need for optimized dosing regimens for this population.

    Piperacillin Population Pharmacokinetics in Plasma and Peritoneal Fluid and Dosing Optimization in Children Undergoing Liver Transplant: An Optimome Study · 2026 · DOI

  • There is a need to assess the bioequivalence of different formulations of amoxicillin and clavulanic acid. There is a lack of information on the pharmacokinetic parameters of amoxicillin and clavulanic acid in healthy Vietnamese subjects.

    An IN VIVO bioequivalence study of two film-coated tablet formulations containing amoxicillin (875 mg) and clavulanic acid (125 mg) · 2026 · DOI

  • High rates of treatment dropout among child and adolescent psychiatric patients. Limited understanding of the factors influencing treatment dropout. Difficulty in identifying high-risk family constellations.

    Factors Influencing Treatment Dropout Among Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Patients: A Survival Analysis · 2026 · DOI

  • The need to identify factors influencing treatment dropout in child and adolescent psychiatric patients. The importance of understanding the impact of family structure and initial treatment approach on treatment adherence.

    Factors Influencing Treatment Dropout Among Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Patients: A Survival Analysis · 2026 · DOI

  • The need for an update on the guidelines for therapeutic drug monitoring in neuropsychopharmacology. The need for a fundamental methodological revision on how to determine therapeutic reference ranges and dose-related reference ranges.

    Consensus Guidelines for Therapeutic Drug Monitoring in Neuropsychopharmacology: Update 2026 – Pharmacokinetic, pharmacogenetic and clinical aspects · 2026 · DOI

  • Pharmacopsychiatry molar units to relate concentration to dose. Laboratories vary in the presentation of their results. They should always add the reference for the reference range to the result. The clinician should take note of the units (i. e., ng/mL, μg/L, μmol/L, or nmol/L) in which the results of the analysis are expressed. This is especially recommended for comparisons of values obtained from different laboratories or with those in the literature. To transform molar units into mass units and vice versa, conversion factors are given in Table 5. When drug concentrations are below the lower limit of quantification, which refers to the lowest concentration of the standard curve that can be measured with at least 80–120 % accuracy and 20 % precision, this limit should be indicated.1561 The results should be available for decision making within a clinically meaningful time. A 24 hours TDM service is desirable; however, a 48 hours turnaround time is sufficient in most cases. In the case of suspected intoxications, a few hours service is necessary.1391 To assist rapid intervention in patients at risk for toxicity or loss of tolerability, prompt information of the treating physician (i. e., a phone call) is required when the laboratory measures drug concentrations above the laboratory alert level (Table 5). We highly recommend that interpretation and pharmacological or pharmaceutical advice are provided with every assessment of a drug concentration, not only for those outside the therapeutic range. Expert interpretation and the adequate use of the information are essential to ensure the full clinical benefit of the TDM report. Reporting of results with inclusion of dose recommendations and other comments must be guided by the best available evidence. As shown in Fig. 4, it is important to check what the indication for TDM was, if the steady state was reached, if the through concentration was measured and what the level of recommendation was to draw correct clinical conclusions from the results. Expert knowledge may be necessary to calculate dose corrections or analyze drug–drug interactions. It is advantageous for the clinician to choose a laboratory that offers this service. Otherwise, the treating physician, a clinical pharmacologist or a trained expert of the clinic has to interpret the results and check for drug interactions that might explain the results. Access to specialist advice is also necessary if TDM results suggest that genotyping may be advisable, as shown in Fig. 5. It may even be legally required to include collaboration with a clinical pharmacologist. In Switzerland, a psychiatrist or a pharmacist may prescribe CYP genotyping, but it will only be reimbursed by insurances, when the test is prescribed by a physician specialized in clinical pharmacology.

    Consensus Guidelines for Therapeutic Drug Monitoring in Neuropsychopharmacology: Update 2026 – Pharmacokinetic, pharmacogenetic and clinical aspects · 2026 · DOI

  • The study identifies a gap in the enforcement of regulations concerning pharmaceutical advertising in children's programs in Poland. The study highlights the need for effective regulation and oversight to protect minors from exposure to pharmaceutical marketing.

    Pharmaceutical Advertising Targeting Children: A Comparative Perspective From Poland and Selected European Countries · 2026 · DOI

  • There is a lack of knowledge on the impact of patient characteristics on the enantiomeric distribution of citalopram. The study investigates the factors affecting the enantiomeric distribution of citalopram.

    Distribution of citalopram enantiomers following medication with racemic citalopram - a naturalistic therapeutic drug monitoring study · 2026 · DOI

  • In infancy, medication costs typically accounted for less than 15% of total healthcare expenditure in studies reporting both components; childhood evidence was limited and suggested a smaller share of total costs.

    A systematic review of medication costs associated with preterm infants · 2026 · DOI

  • The total number of delayed or otherwise incomplete pediatric PMRs is not publicly reported, - Limited data on the effectiveness of NC letters, - Study relied on publicly available FDA resources

    Policy Without Penalty: A Review of Pediatric Research Equity Act Noncompliance Letters · 2026 · DOI

  • Nearly half of PMRs remained delayed even after NC letter issuance, indicating that the FDA’s current enforcement power is insufficient to ensure the timely completion of mandated pediatric studies.

    Policy Without Penalty: A Review of Pediatric Research Equity Act Noncompliance Letters · 2026 · DOI

  • One challenge identified is the lack of controlled studies in youth, making it difficult to determine the effectiveness and safety of off-label antipsychotics and psychiatric polypharmacy. Another challenge is the need to develop effective strategies for deprescribing psychiatric medications in youth, given the complexity of their medication regimens and the potential for negative reactions. The study also highlights the challenge of engaging caregivers and clinicians in the deprescribing process and ensuring that they have the necessary knowledge and support to make informed decisions.

    Deprescribing Psychiatric Medications in Youth: A Feasibility Study · 2026 · DOI

  • Small sample size, - No statistical tests of significance were conducted, - The study was limited to two urban outpatient community mental health centers in New York

    Deprescribing Psychiatric Medications in Youth: A Feasibility Study · 2026 · DOI

  • The lack of a streamlined application process for off-label therapies in paediatric oncology. The need for a centralised database of medicines information to support paediatric oncologists. The need for a collaborative approach to patient care in paediatric oncology.

    Co-design of a paediatric oncology medicines database (ProCure) to support complex care provision for children with a hard-to-treat cancer · 2024 · DOI

  • Previous studies did not use a placebo with identical smell, taste, color, and texture to dicyclomine. There is a need to identify factors that would predict whether treatment would be successful.

    Dicyclomine hydrochloride in infantile colic. · 1985 · DOI

  • There is a lack of studies on the effects of written information on patients in the UK. There is a need for more research on the effectiveness of different types of leaflets.

    Prescription information leaflets: a pilot study in general practice. · 1983 · DOI

  • There is a lack of information about children's knowledge and orientations toward medicines and abusable substances. Prior studies have focused on adults' perceptions of children's medicine use.

    Medicines and "Drugs": What Do Children Think? · 1982 · DOI

  • Self-medication with OTC preparations can be inappropriate. Health professionals must balance encouraging self-care with preventing inappropriate self-medication. There is a need to develop effective methods for evaluating the appropriateness of use of non-prescription and home remedies.

    Evaluating the Use of Over-the-Counter Drugs and Home Remedies by College Students · 1982 · DOI

  • The study had a response rate of 58.5%. The sample was limited to a student population.

    Evaluating the Use of Over-the-Counter Drugs and Home Remedies by College Students · 1982 · DOI

Most-cited papers in Pharmaceutical studies and practices

Most recent work

Find a gap in your own Pharmaceutical studies and practices sub-topic

This page shows what the Pharmaceutical studies and practices literature already flags as unresolved. To narrow it to your specific question, search the Research Gap Finder: the search is free with a free account and lists the papers closest to your topic first. Unlocking that topic (50 credits, charged once) fills the comparison table from our 4.5M-paper local library and writes the gaps from its rows.

Open the Research Gap Finder →

Related topics in Medicine

Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare and Education
2,404 open questions
Substance Abuse Treatment and Outcomes
2,046 open questions
Dementia and Cognitive Impairment Research
1,148 open questions
Smoking Behavior and Cessation
1,056 open questions
Innovations in Medical Education
1,015 open questions
Physical Activity and Health
1,010 open questions
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
970 open questions
Schizophrenia research and treatment
962 open questions
80 open questions have been extracted from the limitations and future-work passages of 532 Pharmaceutical studies and practices papers in our 4.5M-paper local library. Each one below links back to the study that raised it, so you can read the original claim in context.

Tools for your next paper

Gaps & Literature SearchFind open questions in any field — 120,000+ open gaps mined from our own library.Pre-CheckIs your paper ready? A Tier 1–5 acceptance probability in seconds.Journal FinderA ranked shortlist of target journals from a 17,500-venue index.Duplicate Publication CheckerCheck prior-publication & salami-slicing risk across 8 sources.Citation GeneratorFreeA DOI or title → APA, MLA, Vancouver, Chicago, BibTeX, RIS. No signup.Graphical Abstract MakerFreeTurn your findings into a colorblind-safe graphical abstract.

Compare the category — Honest roundups of the AI research tools, ours listed alongside the alternatives.

Command palette

Jump anywhere, run any action.