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A systematic review on the cost effectiveness of pharmacogenomics in developing countries: implementation challenges

The Pharmacogenomics Journal volume 22, pages 147–159 (2022)Cite this article

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Abstract

The major challenges that delay the implementation of pharmacogenomics based clinical practice in the developing countries, primarily the low- and middle-income countries need to be recognized. This review was conducted to systematically review evidence of the cost-effectiveness for the conduct of pharmacogenomics testing in the developing countries. Studies that evaluated the cost-effectiveness of pharmacogenomics testing in the developing countries as defined by the United Nations were included in this study. Twenty-seven articles met the criteria. Pharmacogenomics effectiveness were evaluated for drugs used in the treatment of cancers, cardiovascular diseases and severe cutaneous adverse reactions in gout and epilepsy. Most studies had reported pharmacogenomics testing to be cost-effective (cancers, cardiovascular diseases, and tuberculosis) and economic models were evaluated from multiple perspectives, different cost categories and time horizons. Additionally, most studies used a single gene, rather than a gene panel for the pharmacogenomics testing. Genotyping cost and frequency of risk alleles in the populations influence the cost-effectiveness outcome. Further studies are warranted to examine the clinical and economic validity of pharmacogenomics testing in the developing countries.

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Fig. 1: Study overview.
Fig. 2: Cost categories included in the studies based on study perspectives.
Fig. 3: Cost-effectiveness based on study perspective, including healthcare system, societal, payer, provider, and a study conducted based on both healthcare and societal perspectives.
Fig. 4: Cost-effectiveness according to funding type.
Fig. 5: Cost-effectiveness and the countries where the studies were conducted.

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Data availability

The datasets generated during and/or analysed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

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Acknowledgements

AS was supported by Universiti Teknologi MARA under grant no. 600-RMC/DINAMIK-POSTDOC 5/3 (010/2020). We would like to thank Nur Izzati Izni Rusli from Center for Diploma Studies, Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia and Siti Arifah Mohd Turjah from Faculty of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia for their kind help in data management. CM participation was enabled by funding from the European Developing Countries Clinical Trial Partnerships (EDCTP) grant TMA2016SF.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Integrative Pharmacogenomics Institute, Universiti Teknologi MARA Cawangan Selangor, Puncak Alam Campus, 42300, Puncak Alam, Selangor, Malaysia

    Asif Sukri, Mohd Zaki Salleh & Lay Kek Teh

  2. African Institute of Biomedical Science & Technology, Wilkins Hospital, Corner J Tongogara and R Tangwena, Harare, Zimbabwe

    Collen Masimirembwa

  3. Faculty of Pharmacy, Universiti Teknologi MARA Cawangan Selangor, Puncak Alam Campus, 42300, Puncak Alam, Selangor, Malaysia

    Lay Kek Teh

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Conceptualization, LKT and MZS; methodology, AS; validation, LKT, MZS, and CM; formal analysis, AS; data curation, AS; writing—original draft preparation, AS; writing—review and editing, LKT, MZS, and CM; supervision, LKT and MZS. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.

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Correspondence to Lay Kek Teh.

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Sukri, A., Salleh, M.Z., Masimirembwa, C. et al. A systematic review on the cost effectiveness of pharmacogenomics in developing countries: implementation challenges. Pharmacogenomics J 22, 147–159 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41397-022-00272-w

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