Pharmacogenetics, race and global injustice.
This paper discusses the link between pharmacogenetics and race, and the global justice issues that the introduction of pharmacogenetics in pharmaceutical research and clinical practice will raise. First, it briefly outlines the likely impact of pharmacogenetics on pharmaceutical research and clinical practice within the next five to ten years and then explores the link between pharmacogenetic traits and 'race'. It is shown that any link between apparent race and pharmacogenetics is problematic and that race cannot be used as a proxy for pharmacogenetic knowledge. The final section considers the implications of the development of pharmacogenetics for health care systems in low- and middle-income countries.
Holm
Søren
S
Cardiff Law School, Cardiff University, Museum Avenue, Cardiff CF10 3XJ, United Kingdom. holms@cardiff.ac.uk
D001741:Black or African American / Q000235:genetics; D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000592:standards*; D003906:Developing Countries; D004338:Drug Combinations; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D006830:Hydralazine / Q000378:metabolism / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D038622:Internationality; D007548:Isosorbide Dinitrate / Q000378:metabolism / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010597:Pharmacogenetics; D044469:Racial Groups; D012935:Social Justice; D014481:United States; D014486:United States Food and Drug Administration
D004338:Drug Combinations; C431665:isosorbide-hydralazine combination; D006830:Hydralazine; D007548:Isosorbide Dinitrate