Pharmacogenomics in the UK National Health Service: Progress towards implementation

Over the past decade there has been considerable and growing enthusiasm about the promise of using genomics to inform healthcare. In particular, using genetic data to inform prescribing practice has emerged as a compelling policy priority for health systems around the world, not least in the NHS. Various initiatives and strategies have been developed to explore the value of pharmacogenomics in the UK National Health Service (NHS) and identify strategies for implementation. The NHS England Network of Excellence for Pharmacogenomics and Medicines Optimisation (PGx-NoE) was launched in 2024 and held two stakeholder meetings over the year in collaboration with the UK Pharmacogenetics and Stratified Medicine Network and the British Pharmacological Society (BPS). This article describes the outputs of those meetings, which are discussed in the context of previously identified challenges and opportunities. Rather than simply identify further barriers or facilitators, outputs are contextualized around tangible recommendations and real-world implementation exercises. These are grouped into three key areas: genetics, data and service. The work of partners across the UK are highlighted, including development of the NHS England Genomic Test Directory, the proof-of-principle informatic patterns demonstrated by the PROGRESS study, and the launch of the Centre for Excellence in Regulatory Science and Innovation (CERSI) in Pharmacogenomics, which will create UK-specific guidance and clarify complex regulatory pathways. Many of the well-defined barriers to the implementation of pharmacogenomics have been addressed in recent years, and this work highlights how the UK has the opportunity to emerge as a global leader in genomics-informed healthcare.