Pharmacogenomics

Pharmacogenomics Latest News

Pharmacogenomics transforms drug therapy from a one-size-fits-all approach to precision medicine, tailoring treatments to individual genetic profiles.

About Pharmacogenomics

• It is the study of how an individual’s genetic inheritance affects the body’s response to drugs.
• Origin of the Word: The term comes from the words pharmacology and genomics and is thus the intersection of pharmaceuticals and genetics.
• It is part of the growing medical areas of genomic medicine and precision medicine (also called personalized medicine).
• This is a treatment that’s personalized based on your genes, environment and lifestyle.
• Pharmacogenomics is currently used in
  • Oncology: Tailoring cancer therapies based on tumour genetics and patient DNA.
  • Cardiology: Adjusting blood thinner dosages based on genetic variants.
  • Psychiatry: Selecting the right antidepressant with minimal side effects.
  • Infectious Diseases: Predicting patient response to antiviral treatments.

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Importance of Pharmacogenomics

• Improving safety: It improves drug safety, enhances therapeutic outcomes, and reduces healthcare costs associated with adverse drug reactions.
• Targeted drug development: Some conditions are caused by specific changes in a gene. Pharmacogenomics can help researchers discover new medications that directly target the gene change.

Source: TH