Integrating pharmacogenomics into drug development

The first observations of inherited differences in drug effects in the 1950s led to the recognition of a genetic basis for drug response. With the development of genetics and molecular biology, it became clear that certain drug responses could be associated with specific genetic variations or polymorphisms. There are now examples of polymorphisms that affect response to drugs ranging from common analgesics to chemotherapeutics. The goal of pharmacogenetics is to identify polymorphisms that can serve as predictive markers of drug response. This review summarizes how existing pharmacogenomic technologies can be applied advantageously throughout drug development to bring drugs successfully to market along with diagnostic tests that ensure their appropriate use.