ABSTRACT
While randomized clinical trials (RCTs) provide evidence for the
safety and tolerability of a medication in general, those individuals
that do not achieve acceptable response are subject to a trial-and-
error approach to treatment. RCTs conducted in younger, healthier
populations often use near-maximal dosing regimens, which can
result in serious adverse drug reactions (ADRs) when translated
to older patients that are often excluded from regulatory trials.
Medication nonresponse and intolerability contribute to treatment
noncompliance and discontinuation that compromise medical care.
Variability in treatment may in part be explained by genetic
differences in the way individuals metabolize medications, as well
as genetic alterations in the targets of treatments. Pharmacogenetics
is a field that seeks to integrate genetic information into clinical
practice to improve treatment response on a more personalized
level.
