UK Study Demonstrates Real-World Value of Genetic Testing for Drug Prescribing
By Bio-IT World Staff
June 26, 2025 | The UK's National Health Service is pioneering a new approach to precision medicine through pharmacogenomic testing that could transform how doctors prescribe medications and significantly reduce healthcare costs. Early results from the NHS PROGRESS trial suggest that genetic testing can guide prescribing decisions for nearly all patients, with one in four participants having their prescriptions adjusted for safer or more effective treatment.
The PROGRESS (Pharmacogenetics Roll Out – Gauging Response to Service) trial, involving 500 participants across 20 English clinical sites, has revealed that 95% of patients carry genetic variants that influence how they respond to commonly prescribed medications. The study focused on four major drug categories: statins, opioids, antidepressants, and proton pump inhibitors.
According to Dr. John McDermott, NIHR Academic Clinical Lecturer at the University of Manchester who leads the research, the findings demonstrate that pharmacogenomic testing has moved beyond theoretical promise into practical clinical application. "A significant proportion of individuals' poor response or adverse reaction is driven by their pharmacogenomic variation," McDermott explained at the recent European Society of Human Genetics congress in Milan.
Drug Discovery Implications: Targeting Genetic Metabolizer Patterns
The research highlights critical genetic variations that affect drug metabolism, particularly the CYP2C19 gene variants that influence response to clopidogrel, an antiplatelet medication. Between 25-30% of the UK population carries genetic changes that reduce their response to this stroke-prevention drug, potentially increasing their risk of secondary strokes.
Similarly, the study builds on existing NHS protocols that already test for DPYD gene variations in approximately 40,000 patients annually before starting fluoropyrimidine-based chemotherapy. These genetic markers help identify patients who may experience severe adverse reactions to cancer drugs, allowing clinicians to adjust dosing or select alternative treatments.
EHR Integration Drives Clinical Adoption
A key research finding involves the delivery mechanism for genetic testing results. The PROGRESS trial developed an innovative cloud-based platform ("PROGRESS Rx") that integrates pharmacogenomic data directly into electronic health records, creating pop-up alerts during prescribing moments across different clinical software systems.
This technological approach proved crucial for clinical adoption. Previous research showed that when genetic testing results were delivered through external portals or PDF reports, clinicians were less likely to act on the information. The integrated EHR approach treats pharmacogenomic data like any other biomarker, similar to alerts for kidney function when prescribing certain antibiotics.
From Reactive to Preemptive Testing
The research team is exploring two advanced approaches to overcome the current seven-day turnaround time for results. One involves preemptive testing where genetic information would be collected and stored in patient records before medications are needed. The other focuses on point-of-care testing strategies, including rapid testing in neonatal intensive care units to prevent antibiotic-induced deafness in babies.
Looking ahead, the NHS plans to evaluate whether the pharmacogenomics program decreases overall healthcare utilization in real-world practice, providing crucial evidence for the economic value of precision medicine approaches.
Read the Deborah Borfitz’s full story at Diagnostics World News.