Drug Development in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: Opportunity or Exploitation?

Abstract

Low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) represent a diverse group of regions with varied cancer presentation. Drug development and accessibility across these regions have primarily been dependent on the trials initiated and conducted across high-income countries. Representation of LMIC regions in these trials in terms of study population has been minimal, leading to inequitable distribution of optimal and affordable cancer care. In spite of many challenges, LMICs have now increasingly been able to contribute to anticancer drug development. The opportunities present in LMICs must be explored and used in conjunction with due collaborative efforts from high-income countries, health care planners, and regulatory agencies. Global drug development trials should not only factor in suitable representation of LMICs but also design studies with pragmatic objectives and endpoints so that the trial results lead to equitable and affordable cancer care. Strengthening collaboration between cancer researchers from LMICs and high-income countries and empowering the local investigator with adequate resources will help remove current disparities.