Pharmacogenomics: Clinical Perspective, Strategies, and Challenges

Abstract

Pharmacogenomics (PGx) defines the genetic basis of variability among individuals in response to drugs. It is an emerging discipline of medical science and is now a challenging and applied area of medical research. Several factors influence the efficacy and toxicity of drugs such as environmental factors, age, weight, gender, liver and kidney function, and applied drug therapy. Another crucial factor that influences the drug response of a patient is the genetic makeup of the patient. Polymorphism affects the drug efficacy, bioavailability, and toxicity. Human Genome Project (HGP) has provided a foundation for PGx study by identifying genes related to a disease. PGx knowledge derived from genetic profiling and associated drug response must be translated into clinical applications. A drug label contains information about PGx biomarker and drug related to a therapeutic area and also provides specific information for safe and effective medication based on a biomarker. PGx drugs have improved therapeutic response and also avoid events of adverse drug reactions (ADRs). There are some important ethical, social justice, and economic issues related to PGx which create hurdles in the drug development via PGx. The objective of this chapter is to discuss the basic principle of PGx and its application and also to put forward the ethical, social, technological, and economic challenges in the way of PGx. In spite of many challenges, it is expected that PGx may offer significant promises toward the goal of personalized medicine in the future.