Pharmacogenetic

Pharmacogenetics is the study of how genes influence an individual's response to drugs. This relatively new field combines pharmacology and genetics to develop effective, safe medications and doses that will be tailored to a person's genetic makeup.

History

The term "pharmacogenetics" was first coined in 1959 by Friedrich Vogel of Heidelberg, Germany. However, the concept has been recognized for at least 100 years. The idea that genetic variation can influence drug effects is not new, but it has been greatly facilitated by the Human Genome Project.

Principles

Many drugs that are currently available are "one size fits all," but they don't work the same way for everyone. It can be difficult to predict who will benefit from a medication, who will not respond at all, and who will experience negative side effects (called adverse drug reactions). Adverse drug reactions are a significant cause of hospitalizations and deaths in the United States. With the knowledge gained from the Human Genome Project, researchers are learning how inherited differences in genes affect the body's response to medications. These genetic differences will be used to predict whether a medication will be effective for a particular person and to help prevent adverse drug reactions.

Applications

The field of pharmacogenetics has the potential to greatly impact the future of medicine. It can provide a foundation for precision medicine, where treatments are tailored to the individual patient. This could lead to more effective treatments with fewer side effects. It could also lead to a reduction in the overall cost of healthcare, as treatments could be more specifically targeted to individuals.

Challenges

Despite the potential benefits, there are also challenges to implementing pharmacogenetics. These include the complexity of finding gene variations that affect drug response, a lack of evidence about the clinical value of pharmacogenetic testing, and the need for education among healthcare providers and patients.

See also

• Pharmacogenomics
• Precision medicine
• Genetic variation
• Adverse drug reaction