Pharmacogenomics is the study of how your genes impact your response to medication. Variations in your genes can put you at a higher risk of adverse drug reactions (ADR’s), toxicity, or reduced responsiveness to your meds. This sort of test could be particularly beneficial if you are on polypharmacy (multiple medications).
By using a pharmacogenomics test to guide prescription, your doctor is able to consider your genetics when choosing which medication to prescribe, bypassing the trial-and-error phase of finding the right medication for your body, and minimising the side effects and the risk of ADR’s. Introducing a pharmacogenomics test into guiding your treatment could prevent purchasing medication that does not work for body, and hospitalisations due to ADR’s, ultimately, saving costs on healthcare and medication downstream.
The below article shows a review of 108 studies considering the cost versus financial benefit of using a PGx test to guide prescription choices. 71% of these studies indicate that using a PGx test is significantly cost-effective or cost-saving. It was found to be most cost effective to use a PGx test for certain cardiac medications, antiepileptics, and antidepressants.
PharmaGene is more than just a pharmacogenomics test, with an option for your doctors to access a live portal which considers drug-drug and drug-lifestyle interactions as well as side effects. This tool enables your doctor to provide a personalised regimen, optimising your treatment, and saving you time and money down the line.
Read the full article: Cost Effectiveness of Pharmacogenetic Testing for Drugs with Clinical Pharmacogenetics Implementation Consortium (CPIC) Guidelines: A Systematic Review - PMC (nih.gov)
Reference:
Morris,S. Alsaidi,A. , Verbyla,A., et al . Cost Effectiveness of Pharmacogenetic Testing for Drugs with Clinical Pharmacogenetics Implementation Consortium (CPIC) Guidelines: A Systematic Review - PMC (nih.gov) (2022)