The Role of Pharmacogenetics in Personalized Medicine: A Focus on Commonly prescribed Cardiovascular Drugs

Abstract

Pharmacogenetics can be used to improve the outcomes of cardiovascular diseases by incorporating personalized, genotype-guided therapy. Clopidogrel, one of the main antiplatelet drugs, is a prodrug that depends on the CYP2C19 enzyme for activation, and patients with loss-of-function variants experience weaker platelet inhibition and an increased risk of cardiovascular events. Genotype-guided therapy, switching these patients to prasugrel or ticagrelor, can improve outcomes. Despite barriers such as cost and limited access, pharmacogenetics is a promising tool for safer, more individualized treatment. With falling test costs and growing clinical evidence, it is expected to become an increasingly routine part of cardiovascular care. Ultimately, integrating genetic information into everyday prescribing brings medicine closer to the goal of giving the right drug, at the right dose, to the right patient.