Dose optimisation and scarce resource allocation: two sides of the same coin

Area of Science:

• Pharmacology
• Clinical Trials
• Health Economics

Background:

• Healthcare systems face constant scarcity, highlighted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Drug development and repurposing often overlook scarcity and dose optimization.
• Effective distribution of limited medical resources requires understanding dose-response relationships.

Purpose of the Study:

• To emphasize the necessity of understanding drug dose-response relationships for scarce drug allocation.
• To advocate for the integration of dose optimization in future pandemic preparedness.

Main Methods:

• The study reviews existing practices in drug development and repurposing during pandemics.
• It analyzes the implications of ignoring scarcity and dose optimization.

Main Results:

• Current drug development and repurposing during pandemics largely ignore scarcity.
• Dose optimization is a critical but overlooked factor in managing supply-constrained drugs.

Conclusions:

• Future pandemic clinical trial systems must collect dose optimization data.
• This data is essential for equitable and value-aligned allocation of scarce drugs.
• Integrating dose optimization will improve resource allocation during health crises.