What is the goal of pharmacogenetics?

• A. To tailor medical treatments specifically to the individual, increasing effectiveness while reducing adverse side effects
• B. To develop universal dosing for all patients
• C. To identify adverse reactions in the population
• D. To standardize therapy

Answer: (A)

The goal of pharmacogenetics is to tailor medical treatments to an individual's genetic makeup so the drug works more effectively and causes fewer adverse effects. Genetic variations can affect how a person metabolizes a drug, how well the drug targets its intended receptor, and how it is transported and cleared from the body. For example, differences in enzymes like CYP2D6 or CYP2C9 can change how quickly a drug is activated or broken down, while variations in VKORC1 can influence how a patient responds to warfarin. By using genetic information to guide drug choice and dosing, therapy becomes more precise rather than relying on a one-size-fits-all approach. This reduces trial-and-error dosing and lowers the risk of toxicity or treatment failure. The other options describe more general or population-based approaches (universal dosing, standardization, broad adverse-reaction screening) that don’t capture the individual genetic differences pharmacogenetics seeks to leverage.