A new study from Queen Mary University of London found that 9% of all reported adverse drug reactions (ADRs) reported to the UK medicines regulator are associated with medications where side effect risk is partly dependent on the patient’s genes. Of this subset of ADRs, 75% were associated with only three genes that impact how the body processes medication. Genetic testing before prescribing could therefore help avoid ADRs in these cases.
Research Paper:
Pharmacogenetics and adverse drug reports: insights from a United Kingdom national pharmacovigilance database., PLOS Medicine (2025). DOI: 10.1371/journal.pmed.1004565
4 Likes
PBJ
#2
I believe a 100% DNA test should be the norm these days and given at a young age. It could guide your health choices throughout your life. I used mine today to check for CBS (cystathionine beta-synthase) SNPs — which can impact homocysteine metabolism and responsiveness to B6 (P5P).
3 Likes
I thought I would extract the key part of the article
It found that 115,789 (9%) were associated with drugs for which side effect risk can be modified using pharmacogenomics (PGx) information to guide prescribing. Of these, 75% were associated with three genes that affect the way an individual processes medication (CYP2C19, CYP2D6, SLCO1B1).
So the 75% is of 9%. That still is important, but not as clickbaity. Say 6.75% of side effects may be avoidable if genes are tested before 9% of medication is prescribed.
The cost of ADRs to the NHS is estimated to be more than £2 billion a year.
I don’t think you can simply take 6.75% of this as the potential saving. However, lets work on that. The cost is therefore, 135 million and therefore if the cost per patient is under £1,166 then its worthwhile. Arguably its worthwhile for the patient interest even if the saving is minimal.
However, we need first to know if the ADRs are clearly linked with under or over prescribing which we don’t know.
2 Likes
Than you for pointing this out. It is always the same when peering beneath the covers of a simple solution to life’s complications problems: it’s never that simple. No silver bullets.
The amazing thing for people my age is the transformation in understanding that genetic code matters a lot but determines so little. Biology wasn’t designed like a moon mission vehicle. There is no top down structure. It’s redundancy and efficiency all the way down (or all the way up?). It’s more like a bunch of cells got together and figured out a way to cooperate for survival advantage.
Free Will is in there somewhere but it isn’t easy, and you can’t find it by studying genes.
1 Like
