PERSONALIZED MEDICATIONS

摘要

Weren't we supposed to have drugs tailored toourDNA by now?Agenescan would predict whether we'd respond to atreatment-and even what thedosageshould be. Those smarter drugs are coming, but very slowly. First, Big Pharma had to quit focusing on churning out sequels to blockbuster drugs and prioritize products that help smaller groups of patients. Even then, earning FDA approval for a new drug takes years, as does developing the tests to match people to pills. Forsome people, however, the future is here: Variations in three genes determine howaperson will metabolize a blood thinner called warfarin, and many docs now run genetic tests before writing aprescrip-tion.