The intersection of biotechnology and pharmacogenomics: health policy implications

Increasing knowledge of the genetic basis of disease is changing the landscape of health care. Two critical aspects are growth in biotechnology and growth in personalized health care, particularly targeting medicines based on genetic information (pharmacogenomics). This paper provides an overview of the health policy implications of the integration of biotechnology and pharmacogenomics. I examine four factors that determine whether relevant technologies will be successfully adopted, using case studies for illustration. Key policy challenges include determining the appropriate role of policy in (1) providing incentives to develop socially beneficial interventions and (2) facilitating development of the evidence base.