Genostic: Migrating pharmacogenomics

Using pharmacogenomics to improve clinical decision making is not a new concept. However, Genostic Pharma Ltd. believes that attempts to develop genomics-based diagnostic tools "have been too high tech and complex," according to co-founder and director Gareth Roberts, "and the practice of medicine is not like that."

Nevertheless, Genostic still plans to use pharmacogenomic data coming out of the human genome project to supply physicians with access to diagnostic services where a patient's DNA samples would be screened against existing phamacogenomic profiles to identify the individual's single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). Physicians would use the SNP profile to determine disease susceptibility and to identify the course of medication and treatment most likely to result in a positive therapeutic response...