Skip to main content
Log in

Impact of Pharmacogenomics on Neglected Diseases of the Developing World

  • Bioethics
  • Published:
American Journal of Pharmacogenomics

Abstract

Pharmacogenomics promises to have an important impact on the major health problems of the developing world, especially on neglected infectious diseases such as malaria, tuberculosis, and HIV/AIDS. Its capacity to identify new targets for drug development, together with its potential application in identifying populations who will respond favorably to a particular drug, gives it a unique place as a technology to bridge the genomics divide between rich and poor nations. To realize its true potential, however, significant scientific, legal, ethical, political, and economic challenges need to be overcome. For this to occur, an innovative global approach based on strong collaboration between industry, academia, non-governmental, and international organizations will be required. Simultaneously, more equitable and active participation from developing country researchers themselves is critical in overcoming these challenges.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Commission on Macroeconomics and Health. Macroeconomics and health: investing in health for economic development. Geneva: World Health Organization, 2001

    Google Scholar 

  2. Executive summary of the Commission on Macroeconomics and Health. Millennium development goals (MDGs) [online]. Available from URL: http://www.who.int/mdg/en/ [Accessed 2003 Apr 30]

  3. Broder S, Hoffman SL, Hotez P. Cures for the third world’s problems: the application of genomics to the diseases plaguing the developing world may have huge medical and economic benefits for those countries and might even prevent armed conflict. EMBO Rep 2002; 3(9): 806–12

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. World Health Organization. Genomics and world health. Geneva: World Health Organization, 2002

    Google Scholar 

  5. Pang T, Weatherall D. Genomics and global health: hype, reality, and a call for action in the developing and the developed world. BMJ 2002; 324(7345): 1051–2

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Pang T. The impact of genomics on global health. Am J Public Health 2002; 92(7): 1077–9

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Sadée W. Pharmacogenomics. BMJ 1999; 319: 1286–9

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Evans WE, McLeod HL. Pharmacogenomics: drug disposition, drug targets, and side effects. N Engl J Med 2003; 348(6): 538–49

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Kalow W. Pharmacogenetics and personalised medicine. J Clin Pharmacol 2002; 16(5): 337–42

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Constans A. Making medicine personal. Scientist 2002; 16(19): 44–6

    Google Scholar 

  11. Adis International Ltd. American Journal of PharmacoGenomics [online]. Available from URL: http://www.adis.com/page.asp?.objectID=50 [Accessed 2003 Apr 30]

  12. Roses A. Pharmacogenetics and future drug development and delivery. Lancet 2000; 355(9212): 1358–61

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Genomes online database. Complete genomes present in the public databases [online]. Available from URL: http://wit.integratedgenomics.com/GOLD/completegenomes.html [Accessed 2003 Apr 24]

  14. National Center for Biotechnology Information. Entrez genome: the viral reference genomes. [online]. Available from URL: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/PMGifs/Genomes/viruses.html [Accessed 2003 Apr 24]

  15. Gardner MJ, Hall N, Fung E, et al. Genome sequence of the human malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum. Nature 2002; 419(6906): 498–511

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Gelb MH, Hol WGJ. Drugs to combat tropical protozoan parasites. Science 2002; 297: 343–4

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Hoffman SL, Subramanian GM, Collins FH, et al. Plasmodium, human and Anopheles genomics and malaria. Nature 2002; 415(6872): 702–9

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Jomaa H, Wiesner J, Sanderbrand S, et al. Inhibitors of the nonmevalonate pathway of isoprenoid biosynthesis as antimalarial drugs. Science 1999; 285(5433): 1573–6

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Missinou MA, Borrmann S, Schindler A, et al. Fosmidomycin for malaria. Lancet 2002; 360(9349): 1941–2

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. World Health Organization. Adherence to long-term therapies: evidence for action. Geneva: World Health Organization, 2003

    Google Scholar 

  21. Cole ST, Brosch R, Parkhill J, et al. Deciphering the biology of Mycobacterium tuberculosis from the complete genome sequence. Nature 1998; 393(6685): 537–44

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Zhang Y, Amzel LM. Tuberculosis drug targets. Curr Drug Targets 2002; 3(2): 131–54

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Claverie JM, Monchois V, Audie S, et al. In search of new anti-bacterial target genes: a comparative/structural genomics approach. Comb Chem High Throughput Screen 2002; 5(7): 511–22

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Rosamond J, Allsop A. Harnessing the power of the genome in the search for new antibiotics. Science 2000; 287(5460): 1973–6

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Parkinson T. The impact of genomics on anti-infectives drug discovery and development. Trends Microbiol 2002; 10(10 Suppl.): S22–6

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. McPherson JD, Marra M, Hillier L, et al. A physical map of the human genome. Nature 2001; 409(6822): 934–41

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Venter JC, Adams MD, Myers EW, et al. The sequence of the human genome. Science 2001; 291(5507): 1304–51

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Holt RA, Subramanian GM, Halpern A, et al. The genome sequence of the malaria mosquito Anopheles gambiae. Science 2002; 298(5591): 129–49

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. Druilhe P, Hagan P, Rook GA. The importance of models of infection in the study of disease resistance. Trends Microbiol 2002; 10(10 Suppl.): S38–46

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. Waterston RH, Lindblad-Toh K, Birney E, et al. Initial sequencing and comparative analysis of the mouse genome. Nature 2002; 420(6915): 520–62

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  31. Hill AV. The genomics and genetics of human infectious disease susceptibility. Annu Rev Genomics Hum Genet 2001; 2: 373–400

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  32. Meyer U. Pharmacogenetics and adverse drug reactions. Lancet 2000; 356(9242): 1667–71

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  33. Wolf CR, Smith G, Smith RL. Science, medicine, and the future: pharmacogenetics. BMJ 2000; 320(7240): 987–90

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  34. Schaeffeler E, Eichelbaum M, Brinkmann U, et al. Frequency of C3435T polymorphism of MDR1 gene in African people [letter]. Lancet 2001; 358(9279): 383–4

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  35. McLeod HL. Pharmacokinetic differences between ethnic groups [letter]. Lancet 2002; 359(9300): 78

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  36. Lee SS-J. Race, distributive justice and the promise of pharmacogenomics: ethical comsiderations. Am J PharmacoGenomics 2003; 3(6): 385–92

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  37. Singer P, Daar A. Harnessing genomics and biotechnology to improve global health equity. Science 2001; 294(5540): 87–9

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  38. Morris K, Nundy S. A global role for the human genome. Lancet 2001; 357(9255): 537

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  39. Collins F, McKusick VA. Implications of the human genome project for medical sciences. JAMA 2001; 285(5): 540–4

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  40. Trouiller P, Olliaro P, Torreele E. Drug development for neglected diseases: a deficient market and a public-health policy failure. Lancet 2002; 359(9324): 2188–94

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  41. Garrett L. Betrayal of trust: the collapse of global public health. London: Hyperion, 2001

    Google Scholar 

  42. Bloom B, Trach DD. Genetics and developing countries. BMJ 2001; 322(7293): 1006–7

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  43. Miller CJ, Attwood TK. Bioinformatics goes back to the future. Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol 2003; 4(2): 157–62

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  44. Berners-Lee T, Hendler J, Lassila O. The semantic web. Sci Am 2001 May; 284(5): 43

    Article  Google Scholar 

  45. Hendler J. Communication: science and the semantic web. Science 2003; 299(5606): 520–1

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  46. Pang T. Equal partnership to ensure that developing countries benefit from genomics [letter]. Nat Genet 2003; 33(1): 18

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  47. Nuffield Council for Bioethics. The ethics of research related to healthcare in developing countries. London: Nuffield Council for Bioethics, 2002

    Google Scholar 

  48. London L. Ethical oversight of public health research: can rules and IRBs make a difference in developing countries? Am J Public Health 2002; 92(7): 1079–84

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  49. Beckmann JP. Pharmakogenomik und Pharmakogenetik: ethische Fragen. Jahrb Wissenschaft Ethik 2002; 7: 259–76

    Google Scholar 

  50. Nuffield Council for Bioethics. The ethics of patenting DNA. London: Nuffield Council for Bioethics, 2002

    Google Scholar 

  51. Carr G. A voyage of discovery: biotechnology may yet renew the pharmaceutical industry. Economist 2003 Mar 29; 366: 5–11

    Google Scholar 

  52. Butler D. What difference does a genome make? Nature 2002; 419(6906): 426–8

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  53. Brown P. Genomes of the malaria mosquito and parasite are sequenced. BMJ 2002; 325(7368): 792

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  54. Walgate R. Malaria and mosquito genomes sequenced, but funding falls short. Bull World Health Organ 2002; 80(11): 918–9

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  55. McCarthy A. Pharmacogenetics. BMJ 2001; 322(7293): 1007–8

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  56. Goulding CW, Apostol M, Anderson DH, et al. The TB structural genomics consortium: providing a structural foundation for drug discovery. Curr Drug Targets Infect Disord 2002; 2(2): 121–41

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  57. Medicines for Malaria Venture [online]. Available from URL: http://www.mmv.org/pages/page_main.htm [Accessed 2003 Apr 28]

  58. Global Alliance for TB Drug Development [online]. Available from URL: http://www.tballiance.org/ [Accessed 2003 Apr 28]

  59. International AIDS Vaccine Initiative [online]. Available from URL: http://www.iavi.org/ [Accessed 2003 Apr 28]

  60. Normile D. Singapore: Novartis kicks off institute for neglected diseases. Science 2003; 299(5608): 811

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  61. GlaxoSmithKline. About R&D: diseases of the developing world [online]. Available from URL: http://science.gsk.com/about/disease.htm [Accessed 2003 Apr 24]

  62. Andreopoulos S. Developing drugs for parasitic diseases [letter]. Science 2003; 300(5618): 430–1

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  63. International meeting on a global framework for supporting health research and development (R&D) in areas of market and public policy failure [online]. Available from URL: http://www.cptech.org/events/geneva04292003/ [Accessed 2003 Apr 28]

Download references

Acknowledgements

The author has provided no information on sources of funding or on conflicts of interest directly relevant to the content of this review/study.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Tikki Pang.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Pang, T. Impact of Pharmacogenomics on Neglected Diseases of the Developing World. Am J Pharmacogenomics 3, 393–398 (2003). https://doi.org/10.2165/00129785-200303060-00006

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.2165/00129785-200303060-00006

Keywords

Navigation