Translating pharmacogenetics and pharmacogenomics into drug development for clinical pediatrics and beyond

J Steven Leeder1

  • 1Section of Developmental Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Children's Mercy Hospital, 2401 Gillham Road, Kansas City, MO 64108, USA. sleeder@cmh.edu

Drug Discovery Today
|June 19, 2004
PubMed

Insights

Pharmacogenetic and pharmacogenomic research in children is crucial due to rapid developmental changes. Understanding gene networks can prevent adverse drug reactions and inform novel pediatric treatments.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric pharmacology
  • Developmental biology
  • Genomics

Background:

  • Human development is a dynamic process from conception to adolescence.
  • Pharmacogenetic and pharmacogenomic data in children are lacking.
  • Gene networks influence growth, development, and drug responses.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To highlight the importance of pharmacogenetic and pharmacogenomic research in pediatric populations.
  • To underscore the need to understand gene-drug interactions during development.
  • To explore the potential for novel therapeutic strategies in childhood diseases.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing literature on pharmacogenetics and developmental biology.
  • Analysis of gene networks involved in growth and development.
  • Examination of potential impacts on drug-induced birth defects and pediatric adverse drug reactions.

Main Results:

  • Child development significantly impacts drug response and susceptibility to adverse effects.
  • Understanding gene networks can predict risks for drug-induced birth defects.
  • Pharmacogenomics offers potential for personalized medicine in pediatrics.

Conclusions:

  • Pharmacogenetic and pharmacogenomic studies in children are essential due to developmental changes.
  • Research in this area can improve pediatric drug safety and efficacy.
  • Investing in pediatric pharmacogenetics and pharmacogenomics research is critical for all age groups.

Related Concept Videos

Pharmacogenomics: Identification of New Drug Targets01:29

Pharmacogenomics: Identification of New Drug Targets

Advances in genomics have profoundly influenced drug discovery by increasing both the speed and accuracy of pharmaceutical development. Pharmacogenomics, which examines how genetic variation influences drug response, facilitates the identification of novel therapeutic targets and enables patient stratification for personalized treatment. These strategies contribute to improved drug efficacy, minimized adverse effects, and more efficient clinical trial design.Mapping genetic differences...
2
Pharmacogenetics of Drug Metabolism: Overview01:27

Pharmacogenetics of Drug Metabolism: Overview

Genetic polymorphism in drug metabolism is crucial to the inter-individual variability observed in drug responses. Drug metabolism primarily involves the chemical modification of drugs and other xenobiotics to enhance their elimination by increasing their polarity. Two main classes of enzymes mediate this biotransformation process: Phase I enzymes, primarily cytochrome P450s, catalyze oxidation and reduction reactions, while other enzymes, such as esterases, mediate hydrolysis, and Phase II...
4
Pharmacogenetics and Pharmacogenomics: Overview01:29

Pharmacogenetics and Pharmacogenomics: Overview

Pharmacogenetics and pharmacogenomics examine how genetic factors influence an individual's response to drugs. While pharmacogenetics focuses on the impact of specific genetic variants on drug effects, pharmacogenomics takes a broader approach, studying how genetic variation across populations contributes to differences in drug responses. These fields aim to explain why individuals may experience varying levels of efficacy or adverse reactions to the same medication.Variability in drug...
2
Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Distribution01:17

Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Distribution

Drug distribution in the pediatric population exhibits unique challenges and considerations due to the physiological differences between children, particularly neonates and infants, and adults. A crucial aspect of pediatric pharmacology is understanding how these differences impact the pharmacokinetics of various drugs, necessitating age-specific dosing strategies to ensure efficacy and safety.Neonates and infants have a higher total body water content, ~75%–90% of their body weight,...
334
Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Metabolism01:24

Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Metabolism

In pediatric care, understanding the nuances of hepatic drug metabolism is crucial, as it significantly differs from that of adults. This divergence is primarily due to the developmental stage of drug-metabolizing enzymes, which affects how medications are processed in the body. In neonates, for instance, the activity of Phase I enzymes—critical for the initial breakdown of drugs—is markedly reduced, functioning at just 20–40% of the levels seen in adults. This reduction poses...
246
Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Excretion01:26

Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Excretion

In pediatric medicine, understanding the renal function and drug elimination nuances is crucial for administering safe and effective treatments. Newborns, in particular, display markedly slower renal functions than adults, profoundly affecting how drugs are cleared from their bodies. This slower drug clearance requires clinicians to extend the dosing intervals for many medications to prevent drug accumulation and toxicity while ensuring therapeutic efficacy.One key area where these adjustments...
277