Pharmacogenomics in resource limited setting, Thailand.

Why should be HIV pharmacogenomics?
Adverse drug reactions (ADRs) is a major factor contributing to the interruption of Antiretroviral drug (ARV) intake in HIV-1 infected patients. ARV non-adherence results in viral drug resistance, which derails ARV effectiveness and causes higher costs for complicated treatment regimens. The costlier second-line treatment regimens (2-9 times higher in price than first-line regimens) are unaffordable for individual or government agencies in developing countries.
This situation forms the development of a pharmacogenomics initiative in Thailand, with special focus on HIV.

The first target is to improve the prescription algorithm by personalizing the initial drug regimen; increasing the regimens efficacy; and simultaneously avoiding ADR.

The ultimate aim of this initiative is to minimize the cost of antiretroviral therapy for the public health system by incorporating research findings (“from bench to bedside”). Integrating our POC (point-of-care) HIV-1 pharmacogenetic screening tests and device into Thailand’s universal health-care system is a major challenge for the future and, if successfully implemented, they will eventually benefit both individuals and society.


Video Interviews:

Part one: From bench
Part two: To bedside (point-of-care device)

(Sorry, it is in Thai. English subtitle will soon be added)