Pharmacogenetic tools for malaria and TB in the Developing World

Abstract

Some of the largest therapeutic drug exposures in the planet involve drugs employed against malaria and TB, two main global infectious diseases. Amodiaquine for malaria and isoniazid for TB are two pivotal drugs in the management of these diseases. Both drugs have been associated with severe adverse events. Amodiaquine and isoniazid are metabolized polymorphically by CYP2C8 and N-acetyltransferase 2, respectively. The polymorphic genes coding for these enzymes presently represent the best candidates for the application of personal pharmacogenetics for these diseases. We review the main reasons for this view, while asking the pivotal question of whether it is presently possible for pharmacogenetic-based personalized medicine to be applied in the malaria and TB settings of the Developing World.