Zeitschrift für Pharmakogenomik und Pharmakoproteomik

Abstrakt

Is Pharmacogenomics Ready for Prime Time?

Shu-Feng Zhou

Although there is a large body of data available on clinical and translational pharmacogenomics, the clinical use is still very limited. This editorial will address why the clinical application of pharmacogenomics is not widely adopted and how to promote the use of pharmacogenomic knowledge in clinical practice. Pharmacogenomics has the potential of changing the pipeline model of drug discovery, clinical development, and mass customization marketing. Although there are established techniques for molecular genotyping and phenotyping in major research institutes, the facilities for genetic testing and measurement of drug and its metabolite concentrations are not always accessible
in the diagnostic laboratory. What’s more, mutational screening using the current state-of-the-art technology is still laborious and time-consuming. Furthermore, the lack of adequate education provided to physicians in clinical practice as well as medical students and trainee physicians and it is yet to be incorporated into the curriculum of
medical courses worldwide.