Pharmacogenomics: an update

The module considers how genetic factors can contribute to the variability of response to medicines sometimes seen in clinical practice, how NHS use of pre-emptive pharmacogenomic testing may develop and ethical concerns related to DNA tests and pharmacogenomic screening. 

It is an updated version of a CPD learning module first published in August 2020.

Key facts

• Pharmacogenetics — and the closely related pharmaco-genomics — are terms used to describe how genetic factors can cause variation in the effectiveness and safety of drugs
• Personalised or precision medicine enables the use of genetic information to target healthcare to achieve best outcomes for individuals
• Azathioprine and mercaptopurine are examples of how understanding of genetic variation in drug metabolism can be used to determine appropriate drug dosing
• Pre-emptive DNA tests that give information on predicted drug responses are increasingly available for patients to purchase from pharmacies and online in the UK.

Contributing authors: Dr Martin Duerden FRCGP, co-author of Symptoms in the Pharmacy, with contributions from Alison Blenkinsopp