Pharmacogenomics is the study of how our individual genomes affect how we respond to drugs and medication, transforming prescribing practice to enable the matching of the patient to the most appropriate drug or medication.
Testing patients for genetic variations that affect how they will respond to common medicines must be integrated fully, fairly, and swiftly into the NHS, according to a report published by the RCP and the British Pharmacological Society.
There can be significant variation from one person to another as to whether a medicine works, or causes side effects and what dose is necessary. Scientists have established a genetic cause for variation, for over 40 medicines.
The report – Personalised prescribing: using pharmacogenomics to improve patient outcomes – explains how a type of testing, known as pharmacogenomic testing, should be used across the NHS in order to ensure that all patients have equity, an equal chance of being prescribed medication at a dose that is likely to be effective and safe for them, with minimal side effects.
To read the full article with links to the report, please visit the Royal College of Physicians website.