Pharmacogenetics - five decades of therapeutic lessons from genetic diversity

Nat Rev Genet. 2004 Sep;5(9):669-76. doi: 10.1038/nrg1428.

Abstract

Physicians have long been aware of the subtle differences in the responses of patients to medication. The recognition that a part of this variation is inherited, and therefore predictable, created the field of pharmacogenetics fifty years ago. Knowing the gene variants that cause differences among patients has the potential to allow 'personalized' drug therapy and to avoid therapeutic failure and serious side effects.

Publication types

  • Historical Article
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Genetic Variation*
  • History, 19th Century
  • History, 20th Century
  • History, 21st Century
  • Humans
  • Pharmacogenetics / history*
  • Pharmacogenetics / trends