PHARMACOGENOMICS AND PERSONALIZED MEDICINE: A NEW ERA OF TAILORED THERAPY

Pharmacogenomics is an emerging discipline that explores the role of genetic variation in determining individual responses to drug therapy. Conventional therapeutic approaches often fail to account for inter-individual variability, leading to suboptimal efficacy and adverse drug reactions. Personalized medicine aims to overcome these limitations by tailoring drug selection and dosage according to a patient’s genetic profile, clinical condition, and environmental factors. This chapter discusses the evolution of pharmacogenomics, genetic variability influencing drug response, drug metabolism, and its clinical applications in oncology, cardiovascular diseases, psychiatry, and infectious disorders. The chapter also highlights diagnostic tools, ethical and regulatory challenges, and the expanding role of pharmacists. Pharmacogenomics represents a new era of therapy focused on safer, more effective, and patient-centered healthcare.