Advances in pharmacogenomics technologies

The past decade has seen major advances in our understanding of genomics, with the development of newer and refined technologies. Improvements in the sensitivity and precision of DNA microarrays coupled with the emergence of massively parallel sequencing techniques have redefined how we interrogate the human genome. These tools have facilitated rapid biomarker discovery, uncovered novel targets for therapeutic intervention and enabled mechanistic studies that have helped unravel the mode of drug action. The assessment of drug toxicity based on genomic signatures associated with disease and high-throughput screening for polymorphic interindividual variability in drug responses are procedures that have greatly aided the quality of patient care. The integration of pharmacogenetic approaches for therapeutic monitoring, and health management approaches for advance clinical treatments, will be based on unique patient phenotype profiles and aimed at minimizing adverse drug reactions. In this brief commentary, the evolution and development of key genomics technologies over the past decade is reviewed.