Systems Pharmacology and Pharmacogenomics for Drug Discovery and Development

Abstract

Systems pharmacology involves the application of systems biology approaches, integrating high throughput experimental data from different experimental techniques such as genomics and proteomics involving computational analytical approaches, to understand the mechanism of action of drugs, identify potential drug targets, use existing drugs for other disease indications and study adverse drug reactions. The significance of using integrated approach is that it allows drug action and drug response to be studied in the context of whole genome or proteome. Basically, a strong and simplified platform for the development of systems pharmacology is provided by information from genetic studies, disease pathophysiology, pharmacology, protein-protein and protein-drug interactions. Network analyses of interactions involved in disease pathophysiology and drug response will allow the integration of the systems-level understanding of drug action with genetic information enabling personalized medicine. Developments and insights from merging systems pharmacology and pharmacogenomics studies will provide new information on the complexities of disease associated with the identification of multiple targets for drug treatment and understanding adverse events caused by off-targets of drugs. In this chapter, we explored the current and future application of systems biology approaches in integrating large scale data from high-throughput genomic technologies with complex disease phenotypes, drug disposition pathways which might lead to not only newer and more effective therapies, but safer medications with fewer side effects.