Inter-individual variability in drug response is a well-known phenomenon, influenced by a combination of factors such as health status, drug-drug interactions, drug-food interactions, and genetics. Pharmacogenetics (PGx) focuses on genetic variations that affect drug efficacy and tolerability. By identifying specific genetic markers, PGx testing aims to optimize drug therapy by predicting treatment responses, to minimize adverse drug reactions (ADRs), and to improve treatment outcomes.
Over the past three decades, significant advancements have been made in understanding the genetic basis of drug responses. As a result, pharmaceutical companies increasingly include PGx information in drug labels and international organizations such as the Clinical Pharmacogenetics Implementation Consortium (CPIC) and the Dutch Pharmacogenetics Working Group (DPWG) have established guidelines for PGx-guided drug selection and dosing. Despite this progress, PGx testing has not yet become an integral part of routine patient care.
Our research group is dedicated to closing this gap by investigating the clinical applicability of pharmacogenotyping and facilitating its implementation into pharmaceutical care. Through interdisciplinary collaborations, we aim to integrate PGx testing into real-world healthcare settings with the overall goal to ensure a safe and effective pharmacotherapy for every patient.
We are investigating how PGx information can be incorporated into pharmaceutical care alongside established endogenous and exogenous factors such as drug-drug interactions, health status, and patient adherence. Our research focuses on developing practical strategies to implement pharmacogenotyping in both inpatient and outpatient settings, ensuring that healthcare professionals can effectively utilize PGx testing to optimize patients’ pharmacotherapies over time. Our efforts to integrate pharmacogenotyping into clinical practice are strengthened by a close collaboration with the Biopharmacy and the Clinical Pharmacy & Pharmacoepidemiology Research Groups at the University of Basel. Together, we aim to: