What is Pharmacogenetics?
In our body, a highly complex enzyme system is responsible for how our body is metabolizing the active ingredients of medicines. Minimal genetic mutations in enzymes can significantly affect the response to a drug. This is the reason why the same drug often works very differently from person to people. The consequences are under- or overdoses of active ingredients and thus a lack of therapeutic success or side effects.
Pharmacogenetics addresses exactly these genetic mutations influencing the response to drugs. The aim is to identify the different ways in which human enzymes function and to predict the individual response to drug substances.
This is why only 30% of patients actually have the desired drug effect and over 25% of patients experience side effects.