Work

Analytical and Clinical Validation of Action PharmaKitDx: A Comprehensive NGS Panel for the Identification of Pharmacogenetic Variants in Diverse Populations

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Background/Objectives: Pharmacogenomics (PGx) enables personalized therapy by identifying genetic variants that influence drug response. Despite the advantages of next-generation sequencing (NGS), few clinically validated, guideline-aligned panels comprehensively detect common, rare, and structurally complex pharmacogenetic variants. Methods: We developed and analytically validated Action PharmaKitDx, a targeted NGS panel covering 335 pharmacogenes, including all priority genes recommended by CPIC, DPWG, and CPNDS. Performance was assessed using Coriell HapMap and GeT-RM reference materials across multiple library preparation workflows and Illumina platforms. Clinical feasibility was evaluated in 41 patient samples from diverse specialties. Results were compared with established reference methods, including PCR-based assays, STR analysis, Sanger sequencing, and whole-exome sequencing. Results: More than 99% of target bases achieved ≥30× coverage. Analytical accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, and positive predictive value exceeded 99.3%, with repeatability and reproducibility >99.7%. Concordance with GeT-RM haplotypes reached 98% after star-allele harmonization. The panel accurately detected complex variants, including CYP2D6 copy-number changes and hybrid alleles. Full concordance with prior genotyping was observed in clinical samples. Beyond the initial testing indication, each sample harbored a mean of six actionable variants (range 2–10). Thirty-six rare (minor allele frequency <1%) potentially actionable variants were additionally identified. Conclusions: Action PharmaKitDx demonstrates high analytical performance and broad clinical applicability, supporting its implementation as a scalable solution for comprehensive pharmacogenetic testing and precision prescribing.

Source: Pharmaceuticals

DOI: 10.3390/ph19040568