Amazing Science With Genetics to Prevent Side Effects Caused by Drugs: Pharmacogenetics!

This article talks about genetics and the medicine that goes with it.  Together they are developing a new field called pharmacogenetics.  It explains how this is going to be a wonderful science that will prevent side effects for the whole of humanity.

Genetics

What many of us know is that genetics is used in the medical field to diagnose blood relatives.  Not only this, genetic testing is being used in many ways in the medical field.  Genetic testing can confirm whether a person has hereditary diseases by keeping his or her genetic mutations.  Depending on the outcome of the tests, medical and biological methods may be followed before or after the onset of the disease.  Thus, large-scale disease can prevent losses.  The socio-economic problems that follow can be avoided.

In western countries like the United States, genetic testing for 21 types of hereditary diseases is done within 24 - 48 hours of the baby's birth.  If there are genetic differences, these tests are performed on children regularly.  The best example is Phenylketonuria, a hereditary disease that causes brain development defects in children.  The reason is the deficiency of the enzyme that digests the amino acids Phenylalanine.  Knowing these in advance through genetic testing can prevent the disease by consuming only certain foods in the "Special Diet".

Medicine

Approximately $ 130 billion a year is spent in the United States on unwanted, unrelated drugs and medical care.  This is due to drug-related mistakes and side effects caused by drugs.  In fact, it is the fourth leading cause of death in the world. Therefore, genetics and its tests play an important role in replacing the current trial-error (Trial and Error method) treatment with a Personalized Medicine (Personalized Medicine).  In simple terms, prospective physicians are going to tailor the fabric based on how a tailor sews a fabric to each person according to his or her body language, as well as his or her genetic makeup.  In this way, it is possible to give a proper treatment by knowing how much benefit the drug gives in a certain amount, avoiding the side effects caused by these drugs. Pharmacogenetics is a new field that has been developed to study how the effects and side effects of a drug vary from one person to another through genetic modification.  Although the industry is still in its infancy, industry experts believe that its benefits will make a huge difference in the medical field.

Clopidogrel is used for heart disease to prevent blood clots.  The drug is metabolized by the enzyme CYP2C19 to regain energy and give its effect.  However, if there is a change in the gene that makes this enzyme, they are less or less produced.  So the effectiveness of this drug depends on the level of the enzyme.  The lower the enzyme production, the less likely it is that the drug will be converted into a potent drug.  If 100 mg gives a benefit to a normal human, it does not give the same 100 mg benefit to someone with a genetic difference.  Therefore, on the basis of which the drug is given, it does not give the expected effect and the treatment fails.

Similarly, deadly skin side effects such as Stevens-Johnson syndrome / Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis (SJS / TEN) are caused by certain medications.  In particular, although it is rarely (1 / 100,000 persons) caused by drugs that can be used for epilepsy such as carbamazepine and phenytoin, these side effects can sometimes lead to death.

Taiwanese researcher Chung and his team have been able to prove that genetic variation is the cause of these side effects.  This has been confirmed by the Food Drug & Administration (FDA). However, these genetic differences are caused by different, genetic mutations in each ethnic group.  In particular, the gene HLA B * 1502 is abundant in Central and East Asia.  The same side effects are caused by another gene HLA A * 3101 difference found among the European population.  That is why these drugs are given only after genetic testing in countries like China and Thailand. Although many studies are being conducted in India, the majority of studies are largely on the relationship between disease and genetics.  There is very little research on the pharmacological side effects of genetic modification and the reduction or increase of the drug.  Such studies require knowledge of both the fields of pharmacology and genetics.

For those studying pharmacy and medicine, as well as those pursuing a degree in research in this field, a new field called Pharmacogenetics is waiting for answers with a number of research questions.

References: 

Nature.com/ “Pharmacogenomics and Personalized Medicine”/ Link: https://www.nature.com/scitable/topicpage/pharmacogenomics-and-personalized-medicine-643/

MedlinePlus.gov/ “What is pharmacogenomics?”/ Link: https://medlineplus.gov/genetics/understanding/genomicresearch/pharmacogenomics/

Sciencemag.org/ “Pharmacogenomics: Better drugs through better screening”/ Link: https://www.sciencemag.org/features/2018/09/pharmacogenomics-better-drugs-through-better-screening

The Conversation.com/ “Opioid epidemic may have cost states at least $130 billion in treatment and related expenses – and that’s just the tip of the iceberg”/ Link: https://theconversation.com/opioid-epidemic-may-have-cost-states-at-least-130-billion-in-treatment-and-related-expenses-and-thats-just-the-tip-of-the-iceberg-118245