Pharmacogenomic profiling in postmarketing surveillance: prospects and challenges.

Adverse drug reactions (ADRs) represent a major public health and economic global problem. Growing evidence suggests that pharmacogenomics may potentially play a role in reducing drug-induced adverse events. Research efforts are increasingly directed towards this goal. However, knowledge about whether or not pharmacogenomics may be useful as a novel approach in postmarketing surveillance programs is at present rather limited. A critical analysis of some of the methodological design and ethical issues generated by the potential incorporation of pharmacogenomic profiling into pharmacosurveillance programs is presented.