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CNIO researchers Anna González Neira and Cristina Rodríguez Antona. / Laura M. Lombardía. CNIO
Pharmacogenetics studies how our genes influence the way we respond to drugs. Spain’s health service currently offers pharmacogenetic testing, but distribution is uneven between the different regions, warns the Spanish Society of Pharmacogenetics and Pharmacogenomics (SEFF).
It is estimated that a large proportion of primary care patients could benefit from pharmacogenetics. “A fundamental challenge is to implement it not only in specialities such as cardiology or oncology, but also in primary care,” says CNIO researcher Anna González-Neira.
Spain’s National Cancer Research Centre (CNIO) hosted a meeting of the SEFF that addressed the implementation of pharmacogenetics in Spain. The regions of Madrid, Castilla y León, Extremadura and Galicia are more advanced than other regions in this regard.
The expert community in pharmacogenetics met today at the 4th Convention of the Spanish Society of Pharmacogenetics and Pharmacogenomics (SEFF) held at CNIO, addressing different strategies for implementing pharmacogenetics within Spain’s National Health System.
Pharmacogenetics analyse a person’s genetic variants and how these determine their response to medications. Thus, genetic profiles are used to select the most effective and safe drugs and establish the most appropriate doses for each patient. SEFF notes that using pharmacogenetic information can reduce adverse reactions by up to 28% .
“The new Catalogue of genetic and genomic tests puts Spain ahead of most of the countries around us”, says Cristina Rodríguez-Antona, president of SEFF. “The inclusion of pharmacogenetic testing in our health system is a priority. It could have a very positive impact on both patients and the system itself. At SEFF, we want to support the advancement and positioning of pharmacogenetics to achieve safer and more effective pharmacological treatments,” explained Rodríguez-Antona.
The genetics of the Spanish population and medications
A study by CNIO researcher Anna González-Neira published in the journal Pharmaceutics has analysed the impact of genetics on drug response in the Spanish population. The study shows that more than 98% of the population would benefit from more effective treatments with fewer side effects if existing pharmacogenetic knowledge could be applied.
The research conducted focuses on 21 genes that play a role in the metabolism, transport or targets of the most common drugs, and suggests that up to half of patients would benefit from treatments with some of the most common antidepressants, anticoagulants and antitumour agents.
Inequality in access to pharmacogenetic testing in Spain
Among the most urgent needs identified at the SEFF conference held at CNIO are: revising the data sheets of medicines to collect all relevant pharmacogenetic data; creating efficient systems to incorporate pharmacogenetic results into patients’ electronic medical records; and standardising these tests.
“One of the biggest challenges is also to make the tests available to all patients who need them, regardless of the hospital where they are treated,” said the vice president of SEFF, Francisco Abad: “The issue of equal access to these tests is a challenge that must be addressed, because the reality is that their availability varies between regions and healthcare facilities.”
Some regions, such as Madrid, Castilla y León, Extremadura and Galicia, whose models were presented at the Conference, have made significant progress, establishing network care strategies and reference centres, while others still face barriers that limit the effective implementation of pharmacogenetics.
