Pharmacogenetics--the horizon.

Pharmacogenetics is a growing discipline with great potential for improving human health care. This article provides a broad overview of the field to set the stage for discussions elsewhere in this publication of pharmacogenetic applications for treatment of inflammatory bowel disease. Pharmacogenetics is defined and positioned appropriately in the large picture of drug response and failure. A vision for pharmacogenetic applications and optimal pharmacogenetic candidates is discussed. Two examples of compounds that have failed at least partly because of pharmacogenetic considerations are discussed. Finally, some predictions are presented regarding large-scale clinical applications and current hindrances to those applications.