World Economic Forum: Accelerating Global Access to Gene Therapy: Case Studies from Low- and Middle-Income Countries
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Guide:
The World Economic Forum has released a new report, "Accelerating Global Access to Gene Therapies – Case Studies from Low- and Middle-Income Countries". Gene therapy is at the forefront of modern medicine. By making precise changes to the human genome, it is possible to cure a variety of chronic diseases at once. As of mid-2022, more than 2,000 gene therapies are in development worldwide, and the global market is expected to reach nearly $20 billion by 2027. Researchers are applying gene therapies to infectious and noncommunicable diseases (e.g. HIV, sickle cell disease) that affect tens of millions of people worldwide, most of whom live in low- and middle-income countries (LMCs).
Although these diseases overwhelm LMICs, most gene therapy research and development (R&D) and clinical testing are still limited to high-income countries (HICs), primarily the United States and the European Union. At LMIC, the complex equipment, expert staff, and mature regulatory environment required to develop, test, and manage gene therapies are largely inadequate or non-existent. Without concerted efforts to build gene therapy capacity in low-resource settings, global health disparities could widen.
To understand the unique barriers preventing low- and middle-income countries from entering the global gene therapy market, this report examines five low- and middle-income countries (Uganda, Tanzania, South Africa, Thailand, and India) that are actively pursuing gene therapies for a wide range of diseases (HIV, HBV, sickle cell disease, β thalassemia, hemophilia, and certain cancers).
The selection of case study countries represents different levels of gene therapy readiness. Countries with weak capacities, namely Uganda and Tanzania, devote their resources to equipping health facilities and establishing regulatory frameworks. More capable countries (i.e. South Africa, Thailand and India) have focused their attention on enhancing self-reliance and supporting the private sector. Countries share challenges related to workforce development and retention, local manufacturing, domestic R&D funding, and financing of treatment coverage.
