Pharmacogenomics: The Way of Future HealthCare
Pharmacogenomics, also known as pharmacogenetics, is the scientific study of how a person's genetic makeup affects how they react to medications. For the purpose of creating more individualized pharmacological therapies, this field integrates genomics and pharmacology, the study of genes and their actions. Doctors can determine which medications are most likely to be beneficial and which ones may result in negative side effects by looking at a patient's genetic information. This strategy enables medication therapies to be tailored to a person's genetic profile, potentially enhancing their efficacy and safety.
Interesting Facts about Pharmacogenomics
Now that we know about pharmacogenomics, let’s have a look at some of the interesting facts about it:
Pharmacogenomics is the study of how an individual's genetics influence how they react to drugs. This makes it possible for therapies to be customized to a person's genetic profile in personalized medicine.
Pharmacogenomics can identify patients who are more likely to respond favorably to a certain medication as well as those who are more likely to experience negative side effects.
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has financed the Pharmacogenomics Knowledgebase, a free online resource that details how genetic diversity impacts drug response.
Even though the field of pharmacogenomics is promising, not all medications are impacted by genetic variation. Drugs that target certain proteins in the body, such as those used to treat cancer, are less likely to be influenced by genetics than those that rely on the immune system to do so.
Over time, the price of genetic testing has dramatically declined, making it more affordable for patients. Genetic testing's privacy and ethical ramifications, however, continue to raise questions.
Pharmacogenomics is significant not only in the medical sector but also in the agricultural sector. Researchers are examining how genetic variations in crops can impact how they react to various treatments, including fertilizers and insecticides.
What are the Advantages of Pharmacogenomics?
The following are some benefits of pharmacogenomics:
Pharmacogenomics enables clinicians to tailor pharmacological therapies to each patient's unique genetic profile.
Avoiding negative effects: pharmacogenomics can help identify those who are more susceptible to negative effects from certain medications.
Pharmacogenomics can assist drug developers in determining which patients are most likely to benefit from a specific therapy, enabling more tailored drug development.
Saving money: Pharmacogenomics can help cut healthcare costs by ensuring that patients receive the best care possible right away, eliminating the need for costly trial-and-error methods.
Overall, pharmacogenomics is an exciting field that has the potential to completely change how healthcare is provided.
There are many companies involved in pharmacogenomics, a field of study that investigates the relationship between an individual's genetic makeup and their response to drugs. Some of these companies include Thermo Fisher Scientific, Illumina, Qiagen, Biogen, Roche, and Novartis. These companies are dedicated to developing and commercializing pharmacogenomic technologies that can help personalize drug treatments and improve patient outcomes.
Decoding the Drivers of Pharmacogenomics
Pharmacogenomics is a broad field of science that has multiple drivers propelling the industry’s growth and they are:
Increasing prevalence of genetic disorders:
The development of efficient medications may be influenced by the increasing prevalence of gastrointestinal-related problems, inflammatory bowel diseases, and family histories of illnesses like cancer. The demand for effective, efficient, and cutting-edge medical treatment of anorectal problems would consequently increase dramatically.
Increasing expenditure on infrastructure for healthcare:
The rising cost of healthcare, which aids in developing the market's infrastructure, is another important aspect impacting the market's growth rate. Growth and growth of the healthcare sector, particularly in emerging nations, would encourage the use and implementation of cutting-edge medical tools, devices, and medications. The demand for the treatment of anorectal problems will consequently rise.
R&D Activity:
The number of research and development activities is increasing on a daily basis as a result of an increasing number of strategic partnerships between public and private market actors. These skills in research and development are being used to create new medicines and medical devices, which will increase the demand for therapy for anorectal diseases.
Other reasons that will increase the market growth rate include the existence of a robust pipeline for antiviral medications, the growing elderly population, and the increased occurrence of congenital issues like bacterial, digestive, and Down syndrome. The availability of affordable medications and increased personal disposable income are two additional aspects that will favorably affect the market's growth rate.
Globally increasing rates of life-threatening illnesses advance in molecular methods for creating pharmacogenomics-based medicines, and rising advancements in methods of diagnosis and treatment will all contribute to the creation of abundant market expansion potential. Global medical tourism is growing, and the unexplored market has significant growth potential, thus there will be ample room for its expansion. Due to a rise in the aging population's susceptibility to disease, there will be an increase in the demand for precision pharmaceuticals. For instance, the National Cancer Institute reported in September 2020 that there were 606,520 cancer-related fatalities and 1,806,590 new cancer cases identified in the U.S.
Challenges Faced by Pharmacogenomics
However, one of the main market restraints would be the high expenses associated with research and development expertise. Lack of knowledge and the necessary infrastructure in underdeveloped and backward economies, negative health effects from drug use, the length of treatment times, and unfavorable conditions brought on by the COVID-19 outbreak will all further impede the sector’s growth. The growth rate of pharmacogenomics will also be challenged by the slow pace of medication and inhibitor approval as well as the rising number of patent expiry cases.
Conclusion
It is clear that pharmacogenomics is a rapidly developing field with enormous potential for the pharmaceutical sector. The area examines how genetics and drug response interact, with the goal of customizing drug therapies to each patient's genetic profile for more efficient and individualized care. Over the past ten years, pharmacogenetics has advanced significantly, and the FDA has authorized numerous pharmacogenetic discoveries. In medical and pharmacy schools, there is an increasing need for pharmacogenomics education, and prescribers are open to using community pharmacists' pharmacogenomics services. Overall, pharmacogenomics has the potential to completely change how medications are prescribed and given to patients, improving their outcomes.