Pharmacogenomics - a minor rather than major force in clinical medicine

Introduction: Pharmacogenomics (PGx) is touted as essential for the future of precision medicine. But the opportunity cost of PGx from the prescribers' perspective is rarely considered. The aim of this article is to critique PGx-guided prescribing using clinical pharmacology principles so that important cases for PGx testing are not missed by doctors responsible for therapeutic decision making. Areas covered: Three categories of PGx and their limitations are outlined - exposure PGx, response PGx, and immune-mediated safety PGx. Clinical pharmacology reasons are given for the narrow scope of PGx-guided prescribing apart from a few medical specialties. Clinical problems for doctors that may arise from PGx are then explained, including mismatch between patients' expectations of PGx testing and the benefits or answers it provides. Expert opinion: Contrary to popular opinion, PGx is unlikely to become the cornerstone of precision medicine. Sound clinical pharmacology reasons explain why PGx-guided prescribing is unnecessary for most drugs. Pharmacogenomics is important for niche areas of prescribing but has limited clinical utility more broadly. The opportunity cost of PGx-guided prescribing is currently too great for most doctors.