PHARMACOGENOMICS: A PERSONALIZED APPROACH TO PREVENT ADVERSE DRUG REACTIONS

Abstract

Pharmacogenomics is a fast-moving discipline that examines the intricate relationship between a patient's genetic profile and his/her response to drugs, paving the way for tailored medicine. Through the identification of genetic differences affecting drug metabolism, efficacy, and susceptibility to side effects, pharmacogenomics facilitates individualized drug therapy, ensuring maximum treatment efficacy while reducing the risks of inefficient or toxic drugs. Adverse drug reactions (ADRs) are an important and frequent cause of morbidity and mortality. ADR can be related to a variety of drugs, including anticonvulsants, anaesthetics, antibiotics, antiretroviral, anticancer, and antiarrhythmics, and can involve every organ or apparatus. The causes of ADRs are still poorly understood due to their clinical heterogeneity and complexity Adverse drug reactions (ADRs) observed during drug development have been the cause for discontinuing development of many drugs. In addition, serious but rare ADRs observed after marketing have led to withdrawal of some drugs. Genetic variants in genes coding for drug metabolism, drug transport and more recently human leukocyte antigens (HLAs) have been linked to inter-individual differences in the risk of adverse drug reactions (ADRs). Pharmacogenomics testing has already demonstrated clinical success in predicting severe toxicities associated with drugs like abacavir, carbamazepine, warfarin, and irinotecan.