Pharmacogenomics/pharmacogenetics: the basis of future healthcare
Our body is made up of genes, which are essentially segments of DNA. There are thousands of genes that are inherited from our parents. These genes determine characteristics such as blood type, skin color, and even the way our body processes medications and foods.
During recent years, scientists and healthcare professionals have taken a genetic-based approach to prescribing medications and planning treatments for patients. This process is done through drug-gene testing, which is also known as pharmacogenomics or pharmacogenetics. Pharmacogenomic tests aim to identify differences in our genetic profile which may impact how our body metabolizes drugs, thus leading to a more personalized, thorough selection and/or adjustments of the medication and dosage.
Aside from being specifically catered to everyone, there is one quality of pharmacogenomic testing which makes it highly beneficial, and that is it can be done pre-emptively.
What makes it “pre-emptive”?
A recently published article in The Lancet Journal discussed the use of pre-emptive genotyping through utilizing a pharmacogenetic panel in a clinical setting. Now, this notion might be a mouthful and even unfamiliar, right? Let’s break them down one by one.
Firstly, pre-emptive means “to do something before other people can act, particularly for preventive measures”. Secondly, genotyping refers to the technology that discovers small differences in our DNA that could show its effects in our physicality, responses to diseases and drugs, etc. Lastly, a pharmacogenetic panel is a tool used to test multiple genes to obtain information regarding how our body metabolizes the medications or foods consumed.
So, “pre-emptive genotyping” really means gaining information about your body responses to drugs and/or nutrients which can help you and your doctor discuss the safest and the most effective medication plan based on your genetic profile. Pre-emptive genotyping becomes crucial given that genetic variations could not only lead to ineffective treatment but also severe adverse events
Panel testing – how does it stand out from others?
Instead of testing a single gene, panel testing enables observation of multiple genes in one go. Usually, this kind of testing is categorized according to various medical concerns. However, they could also be categorized according to how the genes could contribute to the development of diseases or side effects.
Therefore, using a pharmacogenomic panel testing will grant you access to a wider range of information of your very own genetic profile and how you can adjust the dosage of any medications you are currently taking or will be prescribed by your doctor in the future, all to avoid adverse effects and receive effective treatment.
Specifically, the article published in The Lancet journal assessed a 12-gene pharmacogenetic panel’s effectiveness on a population of patients in 18 hospitals, 9 community health centers, and 28 community pharmacies across 7 European countries. The patients were separated into experiment group which were treated according to recommendations from the Dutch Pharmacogenetics Working Group (DPWG) and control group which received standard treatment.
The study concluded that the genotype-guided treatment significantly decreased the occurrence of adverse drug reactions and proved feasibility throughout the diverse European healthcare system organizations. The usage of pharmacogenetic testing could be implemented on a large scale in an effort to make drug therapies safer.
Get to know yourself better with pre-emptive pharmacogenomic testing
Along with the previously mentioned article, there has been numerous proofs of the benefits of pharmacogenomic testing, as it is on its way to be the standard of future healthcare.
In Nalagenetics, we strive to make personalization the standard in future healthcare with our pharmacogenomics tests, which can be done pre-emptively with our RxReady™.
To learn more about our products, click here!
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