Milica Bajčetić

Full Citation: Lazic M, Djukic M, Vukomanovic V, Bijelic M, Obarcanin E, Bajcetic M. Acceptability and Palatability of Novel Orodispersible Minitablets of Enalapril in Children up to the Age of 6 with Heart Failure. J Clin Med. 2025;14(3):915.

My friends joke that I don’t have a job, I have a hobby – because research is something I genuinely love doing. It gives me energy and excitement, and nothing makes me as happy as seeing my work published and contributing to the scientific community.

Professor Milica Bajčetić, MD, PhD, is a Full Professor of Pharmacology, Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, and a Specialist in Clinical Pharmacology at the University Children’s Hospital in Belgrade.

Dr. Bajčetić completed her medical degree at Moscow State University and undertook postgraduate training in clinical pharmacology and toxicology at the University of Belgrade, Sapienza University of Rome and University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf.

Her career has been strongly shaped by international collaboration and leadership in pediatric pharmacology. She served as President of the European Society for Developmental, Perinatal and Pediatric Pharmacology (ESDPPP) and is currently a member of the WHO Technical Advisory Group on AWaRe (TAG-AWaRe). She also participated in numerous EU-, WHO- and nationally funded research projects and has published extensively, including textbooks and articles in leading journals such as The Lancet. Her work consistently focuses on improving the safety, effectiveness and availability of medicines for children.

Advancing Pediatric Pharmacotherapy through Innovation

Professor Bajčetić’s research addresses a critical and long-standing challenge in pediatric heart failure therapy: the lack of commercially available, age-appropriate oral formulations for children under six years of age. Conditions such as congenital heart disease and dilated cardiomyopathy often require treatment with angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors like enalapril, yet these drugs have traditionally been administered off-label through extemporaneous preparations, including crushed adult tablets. Such approaches are associated with dosing inaccuracies, reduced adherence and potential safety concerns.

This study introduced the first orodispersible minitablet (ODMT) formulation of enalapril for children aged 0 to 6 years. The 2 mm minitablet rapidly disintegrates and dissolves within 10 seconds, allowing safe and effective administration even in very young patients who cannot swallow conventional tablets. Conducted within the framework of the EU LENA initiative, the study demonstrated excellent acceptability and palatability over an eight-week period, with total or partial ingestion observed in all patients and favorable or neutral taste ratings in 96% of cases, without decline over repeated dosing.

By replacing cumbersome triturates with a standardized, child-friendly formulation, this innovation simplifies therapy for caregivers and clinicians, improves dosing accuracy, enhances adherence and supports better therapeutic outcomes. The findings strongly suggest that orodispersible minitablets represent a suitable and effective method for administering critical medications in pediatric populations and may help redefine standards of care for young children with heart failure.

A Lifelong Passion for Medicine and Discovery

Professor Bajčetić’s fascination with medicine began in childhood. That early experience sparked a lasting curiosity, first expressed through an interest in surgery and later refined into a deep appreciation for pharmacology during her medical studies. While she performed well in surgical training, she ultimately found her greatest professional fulfillment in pharmacology, where scientific rigor meets meaningful impact on patient care.

Research is not simply a profession for her, but a genuine passion. She often describes it as a hobby rather than a job, drawing energy and excitement from scientific inquiry and from seeing her work published and contributing to improved clinical practice. This enthusiasm has been a driving force throughout her career and continues to inspire her commitment to advancing pediatric medicine.

Outside of work, she is an avid traveler who enjoys exploring less familiar destinations, learning about different cultures and understanding healthcare systems across the world. During her travels, she often visits local hospitals to gain insight into medical practice in diverse settings, further enriching her global perspective.

Being selected as a finalist for the International Medis Awards holds deep personal meaning for Professor Bajčetić. The recognition, especially the personal outreach acknowledging her work, represents a powerful affirmation of her lifelong dedication to improving medicines for children and reinforces her motivation to continue advancing pediatric pharmacotherapy through research and collaboration.