The Interface Between Pharmacoepidemiology and Pharmacogenetics

One of the most challenging areas of research in pharmacoepidemiology is to understand why individuals respond differently to drug therapy, both in terms of beneficial and adverse effects. Pharmacogenetics focuses on the question to what extent variability in genetic make-up is responsible for these observed differences. Pharmacoepidemiologic research can contribute to pharmacogenetics by explaining the observed variability in drug response in 'real life' patient populations with known polymorphisms in their genetic profile. Genetic pharmacoepidemiologists also are interested in the distribution of polymorphisms and correlated frequencies of responders and non-responders in the general population, and in searching for unknown genetic links to variability in drug response. In the future, we will probably have fewer drugs that suit all individuals. Genetic pharmacoepidemiology is going to play a major role in the development and evaluation of the concept of 'tailor-made' pharmacotherapy.