Pharmacogenomics

Pharmacogenomics is the study of how genes affect a person's response to drugs. This relatively new field combines pharmacology (the science of drugs) and genomics (the study of genes and their functions) to develop effective, safe medications and doses that will be tailored to a person's genetic makeup.

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.

The field of pharmacogenomics is still in its early stages, and its use is currently quite limited. However, as more pharmacogenomic tests are developed, pharmacogenomics is expected to become a part of routine medical care.

History

The term "pharmacogenomics" was first used in the late 1990s, but the concept has been around for much longer. The idea that genetic variation can influence drug response dates back to at least the 1950s, when researchers discovered that some people had inherited differences in metabolism that made certain drugs less effective or more toxic.

Applications

Pharmacogenomics has the potential to provide tailored drug therapy based on an individual's genetic makeup. This could mean that a drug that works well for one person might be less effective for another person, or might cause side effects in another person, based on their genes.

Challenges

While the potential benefits of pharmacogenomics are significant, there are also challenges to its widespread adoption. These include the need for more research, the high cost of pharmacogenomic tests, and issues related to privacy and discrimination.

See also

• Pharmacology
• Genomics
• Human Genome Project
• Adverse drug reaction
• Personalized medicine

References

Pharmacogenomics Resources
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