African genetic data could change how essential medicines are prescribed

The dosage information for drugs used in HIV treatment, malaria, cancer care, pain management and transplantation is largely based on data from European patients and fails to include vital information about how essential drugs work in diverse African populations.

A Wits-led policy brief shows that more than 10% of essential medicines may require pharmacogenomic guidance.

Pharmacogenomics is the study of how a person's genetic makeup affects their body's response to medications. ...