Vol. 6, Issue 2, Part A (2024)

Pharmacogenetics and pharmacogenomics are two major emerging trends in medical sciences, which influence the success of drug development and therapeutics. In current times, though pharmacogenetic studies are being done extensively for research, its application for drug development needs to get started on a large scale. The major determinants of success of a new drug compound, viz safety and efficacy, have become more predictable, with the advent of pharmacogenetic studies. There is a need felt for pharmacogenomic studies, where the effects of multiple genes are assessed with the study of entire genome.Pharmacogenetic studies can be used at various stages of drug development. The effect of drug target polymorphisms on drug response can be assessed and identified. In clinical studies, pharmacogenetic tests can be used for stratification of patients based on their genotype, which corresponds to their metabolizing capacity. This prevents the occurrence of severe adverse drug reactions and helps in better outcome of clinical trials. This can also reduce attrition of drug compounds. Further, the variations in drug response can be better studied with the wider application of pharmacogenomic methods like genome wide scans, haplotype analysis and candidate gene approaches. The cost of pharmacogenetic testing has become very low, with the advent of newer high throughput genotyping systems. However, the cost of pharmacogenomic methods continues to be very high. As the treatment with several drugs is being more and more pharmacogeneticaly guided (e.g. warfarin and irinotec pharmaco an), the FDA has laid down guidelines for pharmaceutical firms regarding submission. Pharmacogenomics significantly influences the landscape of drug discovery and development by examining how genetic variations among individuals affect their responses to medications. This field enables researchers to identify genetic markers linked to drug metabolism, efficacy, and safety, which in turn guides the design of drugs that are tailored to genetic profiles. By enabling a more personalized approach to treatment, pharmacogenomics helps in selecting patients who are most likely to benefit from a particular drug and in reducing adverse drug reactions, a common reason for drug development setbacks. Furthermore, pharmacogenomics aids in optimizing drug dosages and reducing trial-and-error in prescriptions, thereby increasing the likelihood of successful outcomes in clinical trials. In early-stage drug discovery, it supports the identification of promising compounds and targets, accelerating the pathway from lab to market. Ultimately, pharmacogenomics fosters a more efficient, targeted, and cost-effective drug development process, aligning with the goals of precision medicine and enhancing patient care by providing treatments better suited to individual genetic profiles.