Relevance: GS3 – Science & Tech (Biotechnology, Health) | Source: The Hindu, WHO

Context

India is beginning to explore pharmacogenomics—the use of genetic information to guide drug dosage and choice—after rising cases of adverse drug reactions (ADRs) and variable response to common medicines.

What is Pharmacogenomics?

Pharmacogenomics studies how a person’s genes influence the way their body absorbs, metabolises, and responds to medicines.
 It aims to ensure that patients receive the right drug, at the right dose, at the right time, reducing side-effects and improving outcomes.

Key concepts :

  • Genetic variants can slow or speed up drug metabolism.
  • Poor metabolizers → drug toxicity at normal doses.
  • Ultra-fast metabolizers → drug fails to work.
  • Uses genetic testing panels (e.g., CYP2C19, CYP2D6 enzymes).

Real-World Applications

  • Cardiology: Adjusting Clopidogrel dosage based on CYP2C19 gene.
  • Psychiatry: Personalised antidepressant and antipsychotic selection.
  • Oncology: Tailoring chemotherapy drugs to reduce toxic reactions.
  • COVID-19 & infectious diseases: Predicting adverse responses to antivirals.

Challenges & Way forward

Challenges

Way Forward

High cost of genetic testing; limited labs outside metrosSubsidised testing under public health programmes
Shortage of trained genetic counsellors & cliniciansDedicated training modules in MBBS & nursing
Ethical concerns: data privacy, consentStrong genomic-data protection frameworks
Low awareness among patients & doctorsNational campaigns on safe & personalised medicine
Integration with fragmented health recordsExpand digital health infra under ABDM

Prelims Practice Question

Q. Consider the following statements about Pharmacogenomics:

  1. It studies how genetic variations influence an individual’s response to drugs.
  2. It always requires introducing foreign DNA into a patient’s cells.

Which of the statements is/are correct?
 (a) 1 only
 (b) 2 only
 (c) Both 1 and 2
 (d) Neither 1 nor 2

Answer: (a)

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