What is the goal of pharmacogenomics?
Genetic differences among individuals are proven to contribute to their drug treatment response. Pharmacogenomic research could lead to the identification of new targets for treatments and to a better understanding of the mechanisms of action for treatments. It could also reduce cost and time in the development of new medications, as well as ensure better follow-up once treatments have hit the market. There is hope that pharmacogenomics will one day allow for the identification of those people for whom a treatment will either be effective or have no side effects. This will allow the possibility of putting medication targeted to specific groups of people on the market. In Canada, pharmacogenomics is primarily only in the research phase. Clinical application, except in rare cases, is not yet underway. One such rare case involves the pharmacogenomic drug, Herceptin, which is used to treat some forms of breast cancer.
