Individualized pharmacogenetic therapy: a critical analysis

Area of Science:

• Pharmacogenetics
• Genomics
• Personalized Medicine

Background:

• Pharmacogenetics is often presented as a tool for achieving individualized therapy.
• The concept of individualization is central to the stated goals of pharmacogenetics.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the content and significance of the concept of individualization in pharmacogenetics.
• To critically evaluate the ideological underpinnings of pharmacogenetic approaches to therapy.

Main Methods:

• Systematic literature review of current pharmacogenetics research.
• Conceptual analysis of the term 'individualization' within the field.

Main Results:

• Pharmacogenetic individualization relies on a biomechanistic paradigm.
• This paradigm results in patient population stratification and classification, not psychosocial individualization.
• The efficacy of pharmacogenetics is not questioned, but its underlying ideology is.

Conclusions:

• The term 'individualization of therapy' is a publicity slogan, not a reflection of pharmacogenetics' true potential.
• The current understanding of individualization in pharmacogenetics is theoretically unjustified.
• Pharmacogenetics primarily stratifies patients rather than offering true individual-tailored therapy.