Clinical Utility of Applying PGx and Deprescribing-Based Decision Support in Polypharmacy: Future Perspectives

Dear Colleagues,

Polypharmacy is a necessary and important aspect of drug treatment; however, it becomes a challenge when the medication risks outweigh the benefits for an individual patient. Drug–drug interactions and the introduction of prescribing cascades are common features of polypharmacy, which can lead to ineffectiveness and an increased risk of adverse drug reactions (ADR). Genes encoding CYP450 isozymes and other drug-related biomarkers have attracted considerable attention as targets for pharmacogenomic (PGx) testing due to their impact on drug metabolism and response. This Special Issue is devoted to exploring the status and initiatives taken to circumvent ineffectiveness of and increase in ADRs in polypharmacy patients. Specific areas include, but are not limited to, drug–drug interactions in the metabolism of drugs and consequences in therapeutic management, including PK- and PD-profiling; the application of PGx-based guidance and/or decision tools for drug–gene and drug–drug gene interactions; the development of drug interaction trackers dealing with these issues; drivers and barriers to overcoming these issues for successful implementation in the healthcare system and the cost-effectiveness of PGx-guided treatment. Focused medication reviews of the use, development, and application of deprescribing tools are also welcome. Finally, we also invite manuscripts describing new and innovative approaches to deal with the challenges of polypharmacy within the frame of this Special Issue.

Dr. Charlotte Vermehren
Dr. Niels Westergaard
Guest Editors

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