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GSK is not involved with areas
of genetic research such as genetic engineering, cloning,
or gene therapy. GSK devotes significant resources to
the following major areas of genetic research:
Pharmacogenomics
A major goal of this research
is to more quickly and efficiently identify novel targets
and develop new medicines that effect specific proteins
and pathways, resulting in treatment aimed at the root
cause of a disease, not just its symptoms.
Another goal is to more effectively
screen compounds for their likelihood of causing some
serious side effects before they are tested in humans.
Predicting the likelihood of such problems may increase
the safety and efficiency of drug development - drugs
that are likely to cause problems may be identified earlier
in the process, before they even reach the human testing
stage. This should help protect patients and decrease
the overall cost of drug development.
Pharmacogenetics
Pharmacogenetics is a subset of pharmacogenomics.
The specific science of pharmacogenetics strives
to develop new medicines that will treat disease more
effectively
and to help health care providers prescribe the medicine
for each individual that is most likely to be of benefit
and least likely to cause side effects.
For example: Several gene variants associated
with asthma have been identified. By testing the individual
for a particular gene or pattern of genes (haplotype),
a physician can give a targeted medicine the first time
- greatly increasing the chances of a successful treatment.
Similarly, some people may have genes that
make them more susceptible to serious side effects with
certain medicines. By testing for those genes, it may
be possible to avoid giving a person a medicine that
is
likely to cause that particular side effect in them.
By screening for those genes before using the medicine,
such
problems may be avoided.
Finding Susceptibility Genes
GSK scientists are working
to identify susceptibility genes involved in major common
diseases. The goals of this research are to increase our
understanding of the underlying molecular and biochemical
basis of specific diseases; identify new potential targets
for pharmaceutical intervention; and use this knowledge
to diagnose diseases more accurately and develop new medicines
to prevent, modify or treat them more effectively.
For example: GSK scientists
identified a susceptibility gene for migraine in 2001,
and are currently working towards increased understanding
of the genetic factors conferring susceptibility to this
condition, which may herald a new generation of medicines
for migraine. (SNP
alleles in the NSR gene confer susceptibility to migraine.
Genomics. 2001. 78(3):135-149; A
venome-wide scan provides evidence for loci influencing
a severe
heritable form of common migraine. Neurogenetics.2005.6(2)67-72.)
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