Economic and Technological Influences on Integrating Autologous Hematopoietic Stem Cell Gene Therapy into Sub-Saharan African Healthcare Systems to Treat Endemic Hemopathies

Abstract

Autologous hematopoietic stem cell gene therapy involves modifying the genome of a patient’s HSCs to treat their genetic hemopathies. Though potentially revolutionary in treating hemopathies endemic to Sub-Saharan Africa such as HIV/AIDS and sickle cell anemia, economic and technological influences threaten its progress and ability to be effectively integrated into Sub-Saharan African healthcare systems. Health expenditure data from 46 Sub-Saharan African low-to-middle-income countries and 56 non-Sub-Saharan African high-income countries were analyzed to determine the extent to which health expenditure and socioeconomic disparity affect the availability of gene therapy. Statistically significant differences were found and were supported by reviews of literature highlighting disparities in gene therapy development, healthcare system capacity, and socioeconomic status between Sub-Saharan Africa and non-Sub-Saharan African high-income countries. Six points of improvement pertaining to domestic development, international collaboration, production optimization, ease-of-use, patient-conscious business models, and social aid are suggested as means of promoting future integration in Sub-Saharan African healthcare systems, emphasizing the importance of access in ensuring the future benefits of autologous gene therapy.