Upcoming moves by the FDA could spur a number of pharmacogenomic studies for warfarin and eventually bring pharmacogenomic tests into the mainstream. The Food and Drug Administration is considering changes to the label of warfarin, a popular anticoagulant, that warn consumers of the drug’s varying effects on people depending on their genotypes. While there are no firm dates, the FDA’s decision regarding label changes could come in the second quarter of this year. Experts believe that physicians need to be educated about the utility and cost-effectiveness of pharmacogenomics before it becomes more widely accepted. Another significant barrier to routine pharmacogenomics is converting genomic data into a format usable by clinicians. The National Academy of Clinical Biochemistry is currently creating guidelines for the use of pharmacogenomics in clinical practice.

Source: Clinical Laboratory News