The completion of the first draft of the human genome project has raised enormous expectations, not only in terms of identifying genetic predisposition to disease, but also in improving drug therapy through the development and use of personalised medicines. This area of research, which is called pharmacogenetics or pharmacogenomics, is currently fashionable, and promises benefits for both the pharmaceutical industry and the patient.
There are however many obstacles (technological, regulatory, social and
ethical) that have to
be overcome before (or if ever) the potential benefits are realised. The purpose of the chapter is to critically review this area, and the potential benefits that may accrue from it.
Published by the European Observatory on Health Care Systems and Policies (a partnership between the WHO Regional Office for Europe, the Governments of Belgium, Finland, Greece, Norway, Spain and Sweden, the Veneto Region of Italy, the European Investment Bank, the Open Society Institute, the World Bank, the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) and the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM). |