Pharmacogenomics is a branch of science that studies how an individual’s genetic makeup (genotype) influences their response to medications. This relatively new field combines pharmacology and genomics to develop effective, safe and tailored therapies based on a person’s genetic code.
Understanding the Role of Genes
Coherent Market Insights highlights in Pharmacogenomics Market, on how this emerging field represents a shift toward more personalized, predictive and preventive healthcare approaches.
Our genes encode instructions that determine aspects of our physical appearance, susceptibility to diseases and how our body responds to drugs. Small genetic variations, known as single nucleotide polymorphisms or SNPs, cause differences in the way people metabolize and react to medications.
For example, some people may clear a medication from their system too quickly, resulting in inadequate therapeutic effect. Others may break down a drug too slowly, leading to toxic levels in their bloodstream. Identifying a person’s genetic profile can help predict how their body will handle specific medications.
Advancing Personalized Treatment
By applying pharmacogenomic strategies, doctors can personalize drug selection and dosing based on a patient’s genetic makeup. Instead of a trial-and-error approach, treatment plans can be tailored from the start. This has the potential to improve medication safety and effectiveness for individuals.
Areas where pharmacogenomics is making an impact include oncology, psychiatry, cardiology and infectious diseases. For cancer patients, genetic testing helps match therapies to a tumor’s molecular profile. In psychiatry, pharmacogenomics aids in selecting antidepressants less likely to cause side effects.
The goal is to one day integrate a person’s pharmacogenomic information into their electronic health record. Doctors will be able to use this genetic data to select the optimal drug and dose for each patient’s unique needs.
Pharmacogenomic Testing
Several FDA-approved genetic tests are currently available to guide prescribing decisions. One of the first was a biomarker that predicts response to the blood thinner warfarin. Variations in the CYP2C9 and VKORC1 genes impact warfarin sensitivity.
Before initiating treatment, many clinicians now order a warfarin pharmacogenomic test. Based on the results, they can estimate a therapeutic dose range instead of guessing. This has significantly reduced bleeding complications from over-anticoagulation.
Other pharmacogenomic tests analyze variants affecting drug metabolism. The Cytochrome P450 (CYP) family of enzymes metabolize over 75% of clinical medications. SNPs in CYP2D6, CYP2C19 and CYP2C9 influence how quickly antidepressants, antiplatelets and other drugs are cleared.
Genetic screening helps avoid prescribing drugs a patient may have poor or Ultra-Rapid metabolism for. Frequently, an alternative medication from the same class can be selected with a safer profile.
Advancing Molecular Diagnostics
As the costs of genetic testing decrease and turnaround times shorten, pharmacogenomic screening is becoming more practical in clinical settings. Microarray and next-generation sequencing technologies have advanced molecular diagnostics.
Multiple genes can now be analyzed simultaneously from a single patient sample. Laboratories offer pharmacogenomic panels that evaluate over 100 medically-actionable variants in one test. The future promises expanded testing to improve prescribing for an array of common conditions.
Current Applications and Research
Several specialized areas have led implementation of pharmacogenomic principles in medical practice. Here are few key therapeutic classes where pharmacogenomics is influencing treatment decisions:
Psychiatry
Antidepressants, antipsychotics, and other psychotropic drugs exhibit wide interindividual variability in efficacy and adverse effects. Genetic research aims to optimize psychotropic therapy based on a patient’s metabolic profile and receptor polymorphisms. Studies focus on selecting SSRIs, SNRIs or other antidepressants less likely to cause side effects in a particular person.
Oncology
Molecular profiling aids in matching cancer therapies to a tumor’s genetic and protein expression features. Biomarkers guide decisions such as HER2 status for breast cancer treatment or EGFR mutations in lung cancer. Pharmacogenomics also investigates chemotherapy dosing based on variants affecting drug-metabolizing enzymes and transporters.
Cardiology
Variations in genes like CYP2C19 impact antiplatelet therapy with clopidogrel. Carriers of reduced function alleles face a higher risk of stent thrombosis due to impaired drug activation. Preliminary research examines using alternative P2Y12 receptor inhibitors or adjusting doses based on a patient’s CYP2C19 genotype.
Market Outlook
The global pharmacogenomics market size was valued at USD X million in 2020 is expected to expand at a compound annual growth rate of Y% from 2021 to 2028, according to a recent report by Coherent Market Insights. North America currently dominates the global pharmacogenomics industry due to supportive regulatory environment and increasing adoption of genetic testing in the region’s healthcare systems. Factors such as rising focus on precision medicine, growing need for targeted drug therapies, technological advancements in sequencing and genetic testing are expected to drive the market growth over the forecast period. The widespread application of pharmacogenomics across therapeutics areas like oncology, psychiatry and cardiology indicates strong growth prospects for this market in future. For more detailed analysis on key drivers, restraints and opportunities in the pharmacogenomics industry, refer to the pharmacogenomics market research report published by Coherent Market Insights.
