Ethical considerations on pharmacogenomics.

Abstract

Pharmacogenetics offers the prospect of an era of safer and more effective drugs, as well as more individualized use of drug therapies. The effect of human genetic variance on responses to therapy will influence drug-development clinical trials and the use of products in clinical practice. It also promises to raise new ethical challenges, in particular in the fields of research and therapy. Last but not least, pharmacogenetics is likely to fulfil the old dream of an individualised medicine, but in a totally unexpected way.