Pharmacogenetics: A Marvel!

Abstract

Pharmacogenetics is a new paradigm in the field of medical research and therapeutics which is set to revolutionize the current scenario of drug prescribing in health care. It can identify the genetic variations responsible for differences in drug efficacy and safety among individuals by employing pharmacogenomic tools and hence result in lowering of the chances of therapeutic failures and adverse effects. Clinical practitioners will also need to have a thorough understanding of these tests and then incorporate them in their practice. Pharmaceutical companies too can benefit by pre-clinical testing for identifying suitable targets and their candidates and then performing clinical studies on the relevant population. Gradually, few pharmacogenetic tests have become available in selected laboratories around the world which is a promising step ahead towards a better future. Still, there is a need to take care of cost-related issues of genomic tools, non genetic factors, multigene involvements and ethical limitations associated with incorporation of pharmacogenetics completely into health care practice.