Ever got scared of the famous slogan “one dose fits all” before taking a drug? Or left wondering what would happen to your body if you decide to take a drug that might have worked very well for a friend a previous day? Pharmacogenomics, which is still a developing scientific concept might have responses to some of these questions. It basically studies how different genes in the body would respond to different drugs when taken into the body. Metabolism of drugs in the body depend on the enzymatic activity of genes in the body and hence it is important that the knowledge through the study of drugs(pharmacology) and the study of the total genetic make-up of the body(genomics) are combined to facilitate healthcare
Just like how the average Ghanaian will buy paracetamol when he or she feels a little bit of pain from the neck up, a person from the United States or another country will intake codeine cough syrup to relief his or her pain. Codeine is a pro drug of morphine, meaning after metabolism it becomes active as a drug in the body as morphine. CYP2D6 is a gene involved in the metabolism of this drug. In its metabolism depending on the genetic make-up of the patient, it could either be poor, ultra-rapid, extensive or intermediate. In the bodies of patients which ultra-rapid metabolism takes place, too much of its active morphine form can be produced which might go as far as causing deaths to patients. Poor metabolism might also not produce the desired form and might lead to other consequences such as dizziness. Research has already shown that over 70 million of the world’s population undergo ultra-metabolism when they intake codeine, meaning over 1% of mankind will have their lives under threats when they take in this drug. Hence, it is important to know the genome of a patient before prescribing such a drug for them.
Codeine and CYP2D6 are not the only examples that signify the importance of this developing concept. Other genes and how they respond to other drugs such as tramadol, propranolol, venlafaxine and others have also been studied. Pharmacogenomics is helping provide the right drugs for the right patients and helping eliminate certain trial and error methods of diagnosis at the same time. More studies are still being developed on this topic. As time goes on, it is expected that this interesting study will combine with computational and technological principles and help provide different drugs to suit metabolism with varying genetic make-ups. It is also expected that it helps in coming out with drugs for diseases which have no specific drug treatment as well.
In conclusion, pharmacogenomics is one of the world-changing studies right now and in the years to come.
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