A New Intervention for Implementation of Pharmacogenetics in Psychiatry

Project Information

PSY-PGx

Grant agreement ID: 945151

DOI

10.3030/945151

Project closed

EC signature date 1 February 2021

Start date 1 March 2021

End date 28 February 2026

Funded under

• SOCIETAL CHALLENGES - Health, demographic change and well-being

Total cost

€ 7 999 611,75

EU contribution

€ 7 999 611,75

Coordinated by

UNIVERSITEIT MAASTRICHT
Netherlands

Periodic Reporting for period 2 - PSY-PGx (A New Intervention for Implementation of Pharmacogenetics in Psychiatry)

Reporting period: 2022-09-01 to 2024-02-29

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

Nowadays, ~30% of the population will suffer from a mental illness at least once in their lifetime. Due to the chronic relapsing nature of mental disorders and increased life expectancy, the societal burden of mental disorders is likely to increase even further. Effective treatments for mental disorders are available, but their effect is limited due to patients’ (genetic) heterogeneity and low treatment compliance due to frequent side effects; only one-third of the patients respond to treatment and experience remission. Today, medication selection in psychiatry relies on a trial-and-error approach that combines physicians’ experience with clinical indicators.

Recent studies have shown that genotyping of gene-encoding drug-metabolising enzymes can increase the effectiveness of treatment, which could benefit millions of patients. Pharmacogenetic testing can help reduce uncertainty in this process by determining the person-specific genetic factors that predict clinical response and side effects associated with genetic variants that impact drug-metabolising enzymes, drug transporters or drug targets. Personalised medicine) has the potential to respond to mental disorders and the increasing burden of co-morbidities, thus enhancing the sustainability of healthcare systems.

To this end, a newly developed algorithm will be created based on available biobank data from Finland and the UK, with the aid of Artificial Intelligence. Also, a PSY-PGx clinical trial will be performed, which is the first international, multicentric, non-industry sponsored trial of the utility of pharmacogenetic-based treatment personalization in psychiatry. The results of the clinical trial will be used to validate and finetune the algorithm. It will deliver a new, economically viable model of care for sustainable healthcare systems.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

We achieved the following steps in the second reporting period:
All preparatory steps were taken to ensure that all data and samples of the clinical study could be processed as needed (WP1). Even though we experience delays in the related administration at some recruitment sites, initial recruitments could start. Three of our partners are currently enrolling patients. Several actions have been taken to stimulate patient recruitment further and allow the data collection to proceed as planned once all centres can start recruiting (WP5). PSY-PGx puts great emphasis on ethical, legal and societal issues (WP2) and actions to support this are progressing as planned. The study and data management (WP3) activities have led to all associated SOPs and data collection systems being established. Continuous fine-tuning has allowed the harmonization of data between centres. We are continuously monitoring the progress of our data management systems. The processing of the biobank data (WP4) was delayed as the signing of all biobank agreements took longer than expected but the related data processing activities are expected to now lift off with all approvals being obtained. The effects of CYP2C19 genotype on proxies of SSRI antidepressant response could already be investigated based on the transferred data, with the data being published open access. Due to the delays in the data transfer agreements, the algorithm to set-up the medication modelling could not be finalized yet but an initial approach has been developed (WP6). The dissemination and exploitation activities are strongly advancing, with a major milestone of the project being achieved ahead of schedule: In September 2023, the international guideline on the use of PSY-PGx in Psychiatry was presented at the World Psychiatric Association Congress (WP7). PSY-PGx has been involved in various outreach activities such as international lectures, training programmes, webinars, keynote sessions and patient events. Project management (WP8) is proceeding through various coordinating meetings, with several important administrative steps being taken in RP2 (see below).

The main results achieved during RP2 were:
- Finalization of the clinical study protocol was achieved,
- Ethical approval was obtained for PGB, MUMC, FFUB, UBB and KCL,
- The User satisfaction analysis report of the BEHAPP application was completed,
- The Processing of eCRF in CASTOR has been completed,
- SOPs for (pseudo-)anonymization are in place,
- All data harmonization strategies are established,
- The DMP has been adapted based on initial feedback,
- Approval documents for involved biobanks have been arrnaged for the UK Biobank and are being arranged for the Finish Biobanks (7),
- An open-access publication based on the biobank data has been published,
- The trial registration has been added to the WHO registry network,
- Several boards (Executive Steering Board, Scientific and Ethics Advisory Board, Patient Advisory Board, Data Access Committee) were established,
- A governance report was submitted,
- A consortium agreement was signed, including NDAs with external advisors and third-party contracts,
- A quality assurance plan has been developed,
- A risk contingency plan has been set up and adjusted

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

PSY-PGx enables patients with mental illness to receive personalised medication treatment. The phenotyping (genetic analysis) components of PSY-PGx contribute to personalising treatment and making disease and outcome predictions for patients more accurate, thereby reducing the risk of ‘hit-and-miss’ medications and the personal suffering and financial burden of incorrect medications.
The assessment of genetic and continuous tracking of physical data will also help reduce the risk of drug-drug interactions with potential hazardous outcomes as e.g. the development of comorbidities as cardiovascular disease (cardiac rhythm disorders, hypertension, glucose intolerance, diabetes, adipositas) or behavioural disturbances as increase in suicidal thoughts or behaviour or increase in agitation. Through the PSY-PGx new model, patients will become more aware of their personal risk factors and their own behaviour and how this influences their condition and treatment. They will have closer contact with clinicians and feel more involved in their treatment.
Additionally, the knowledge and analysis of behavioural aspects, especially lifestyle choices, will help them identify factors which might positively influence their treatment and recovery. The open methodology policies applied to PSY-PGx will further enable patients to be informed on the different aspects of the model of care (genotyping, phenotyping, data management).

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