The Role of Pharmacogenomic Testing in Tailoring Medication Therapy to Individual Patients

Abstract

Pharmacogenomics refers to the study of how an individual's genes can affect their response to medications and emerges from the broader fields of pharmacology and genomics (Barone et al., 2009). Because each patient’s genetic make-up is unique, they will respond differently to the same medication. Some patients may find a medication effective, while others may find it ineffective, and still others may suffer adverse side effects. Pharmacogenomics seeks to develop a new generation of medications that will be tailored to individuals, thereby reducing the guesswork in prescribing medications. Many medications currently prescribed have been developed without consideration of how an individual’s genetic make-up might affect their response (Tucker, 2008). Individually tailored medications are expected to be the ultimate goal of pharmacogenomics; however, even partially successful efforts would have a significant impact on health care in the United States.

As an alternative to health care costs rising, pharmacogenomics could mean that health care dollars go significantly farther by spending less on each individual patient. One promising new technology is pharmacogenomic testing: genetic assays that can be performed on a patient’s DNA to guide their drug therapy. These tests can help physicians select the most effective medications for their patients while avoiding medications that can cause serious side effects. There has been a plethora of pharmacogenomic research for many different drug classes, and there are already pharmacogenomic tests commercially available. These pharmacogenomic tests could be performed as part of a patient’s routine medical work-up: to guide drug selection for patients prior to starting therapy, ensuring the best possible medication is prescribed from the beginning. A new class of medications that are effective but have a high risk of side effects could benefit greatly from pharmacogenomic testing.