A Quick Introduction to Precision Medicine
When the Human Genome Project was completed over 10 years ago, there were expectations of finding a ‘heart disease gene’ or a ‘diabetes gene’. What we now know is that not all genes will express themselves. Some confer a propensity or vulnerability to disease and can get switched on or off by our environment — comprising food, exercise, supplements, and more. This is the foundation of precision medicine.
What Is Pharmacogenomics?
Pharmacogenomics combines pharmacology (the study of drugs) and genomics (the study of genes and their function) to provide invaluable information about how an individual’s DNA influences the response to medication. A drug that works well in one person might not be effective for another — or worse, may cause unwanted side effects. This is because the way a particular medication works depends on how it is broken down, utilised, and eliminated by our bodies. For many drugs, this mechanism is determined by our DNA.
While we’re all over 99.9% similar to one another, the remainder 0.1% difference in our DNA can mean the difference between effective medication, a medication that doesn’t work, or one that produces a bad side effect or allergic reaction. Pharmacogenomics plays an important role in:
Distinguishing between responders and non-responders to medication
Identifying those at risk for a serious side effect
Determining optimum drug dosage
Why Does It Matter?
According to the US Department of Health & Human Services, over 770,000 people are injured or die each year in hospitals from adverse drug events. Pharmacogenomics can play a vital role in reducing these numbers. Precision medicine can significantly reduce cost, disease exacerbation, adverse events, and deaths associated with a trial-and-error approach to prescribing — while increasing compliance and overall wellbeing.
Pharmacogenomics tests are typically once-in-a-lifetime tests that are especially useful in choosing the right drugs for pain management, heart disease, cancer, diabetes, psychiatric conditions, and antibiotics. The US FDA has listed over 200 drugs with pharmacogenomic markers for drug labelling.
Welcome to Precision Medicine — Know Your Drug Response Profile
Medicamap by MapmyGenome reports your pharmacogenomic profile for almost 100 FDA-approved drugs across 20+ drug classes — from common cold to cancer. Includes certified genetic counselling and a CAP & NABL-accredited laboratory.
