Episode 28 - Pharmacogenomics — Everything Your Doc Wants You To Know

Episode 28 Pharmacogenomics with Dr. Natasha Petry, PharmD, BCACP

Natasha has a bachelor’s degree in Microbiology and graduated with a Doctor of Pharmacy in 2012 from North Dakota State University in Fargo, ND. She completed a post graduate Pharmacy Practice Residency at Trinity Health in Minot, ND and joined the faculty at NDSU as an Assistant Professor with a clinical appointment at Sanford Health. She is a board-certified Ambulatory Care Pharmacist and began working in the area of Pharmacogenomics in 2014. She is an affiliate member of the NIH funded Implementing GeNomics In practice (IGNITE) network. She currently works as a Pharmacogenetics Clinical Pharmacist for Sanford Imagenetics. In addition, she is pursuing a Master of Public Health degree. Natasha is a wife, mother to 2 beautiful girls, and enjoys attending sporting events.

Pharmacogenomics: The genetics of how people metabolize (break down) medications. Genetic information can help guide the use of medication dosing and medication choice. Genetics looks at the enzymes that break down medications. Can help determine efficacy or utility, safety and/or dosing

Still limited but growing rapidly- another “tool in the toolbox”

Genetics does not change in a lifetime

Cost can be limiting

Currently useful in prescribing antidepressants, some pain medications, cholesterol medications (statins), clopidogrel (Plavix), warfarin

Limitations:

No standardization in lab testing regarding which allele variants are tested

Cost

Limited actionable results that impact a finite number of medications

Genetic testing collected through blood, saliva, cells from the cheeks depending on lab used

Variable insurance coverage: preemptive testing not likely covered, reactive is being covered more often

Direct to consumer testing vs. laboratory (health system) derived testing

Need Medical Geneticists and Pharmacists to help interpret information