PHARMACOGENOMICS (PGx)
EMPOWERING THE FIGHT AGAINST ONE-SIZE-FITS-ALL TREATMENT MODEL
Over 250 medicines currently have PGx testing listed on their FDA-approved labeling. One study found that 63% of adults and 29% of children with pharmacy insurance coverage were prescribed medicines that were significantly affected by their genes (Liu et al. 2021). According to CDC, Pharmacogenomics is an important example of the field of precision medicine, which aims to tailor medical treatment to each person or to a group of people. Pharmacogenomics looks at how your DNA affects the way you respond to drugs. In some cases, your DNA can affect whether you have a bad reaction to a drug or whether a drug helps you or has no effect. Depending on the genetic profile, some medications may act faster or slower, or produce more or less side effects in each patient. This indicates that patients can receive tailored therapy based on PGx testing results.
Why pharmacogenomics (PGx) testing is important?
- To avoid or prevent serious side effects for medications
- To adjust the dose of a medication or recommend a different medication when current treatment is not effective
- To identify the proper prescribing medication and select a right dosage of medication based on each individual’s genomic profile
- Frequently Asked Questions About Pharmacogenomics from National Institutes of Health (NIH) National Human Genome Research Institute
- Table of Pharmacogenomic Biomarkers in Drug Labeling from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
- https://cpicpgx.org/genes-drugs/
- https://www.pharmgkb.org/
- https://drug-interactions.medicine.iu.edu/MainTable.aspx