Pharmacogenetic testing for selected conditions/behavioral health treatments

Pharmacogenomics aims to identify relationships between variations in genes that affect medication response and clinical outcomes and ultimately identify patients likely to respond to treatment or experience adverse events from specific medications. Targeted tests of individual genes and multigene panels designed to test several selected genes at once are available to identify specific variants in each gene that are believed to be associated with drug response or potential adverse reactions.

Status: Decision completed

Why is pharmacogenetic testing being reviewed?

A growing number of new laboratory tests and computer based predictive algorithms are available to assess an individual patient's potential metabolic response to various drugs. Potential benefits include better application of the drugs for a specific individual. Concerns relate to whether specific tests result in improved treatment decisions and health outcomes, as well as rapid emergence and uptake of pharmacogenetics tests generally.

Primary criteria ranking

  • Safety = Low
  • Efficacy = High
  • Cost = Medium/ High

Documentation

Assessment timeline 

  • Draft key questions published: July 14, 2016
    • Public comment period: July 15 to 29, 2016
  • Final key questions published: August 10, 2016
  • Draft report published: October 21, 2016
    • Public comment period: October 21 to November 21, 2016
  • Final report published: December 16, 2016
  • HTCC public meeting: January 20, 2017