PharmGKB Clozapine PK Pathway appears on the cover of Pharmacogenetics and Genomics

The Clozapine Pharmacokinetics Pathway is featured on the cover of September 2018 volume 28 issue 9 of Pharmacogenetics and Genomics. This pathway shows the candidate genes involved in the metabolism of the antipsychotic drug clozapine and was developed by curator Dr Caroline F. Thorn with Professor Daniel Mueller of the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Canada.

CYP2D6 genotype to phenotype standardization project - seeking feedback

The assignment of the CYP2D6 metabolizer phenotype based on a subject's genotype is an important aspect of clinical implementation of pharmacogenetics knowledge. Especially for CYP2D6, the genotype-inferred phenotypes vary across laboratories and guidelines. The goal of the CYP2D6 genotype to phenotype standardization project is to harmonize this translation. 

The following consensus was reached by a group of CYP2D6 excepts through a series of surveys:
1) Activity score of 1 should be assigned as CYP2D6 intermediate metabolizer
2) Downgrading the CYP2D6*10 allele from activity score 0.5 to 0.25

We are seeking feedback on the final CYP2D6 genotype to phenotype table, which summaries all CYP2D6 metabolizers assignment based on activity score. 

Information about the project are available here: https://cpicpgx.org/resources/cyp2d6-genotype-to-phenotype-standardization-project/. Please email any comments to contact@cpicpgx.org by September 27th.

NHGRI/NCI survey on genomics education

The National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI), who are supportive of PharmGKB and CPIC, have teamed up with the National Cancer Institute (NCI) to survey research and healthcare professionals about genomics education. The results of this survey will help to determine the resource and training priorities for future genomics education.

PharmGKB and CPIC are both actively working on pharmacogenomic education initiatives and we encourage everyone working in pharmacogenomics to complete the survey. This will highlight the importance of pharmacogenomics in future genomics education.

The survey takes approximately 10 minutes to complete and is tailored to different roles in both research and healthcare. The questions aim to evaluate respondents’ knowledge of genomics and learning needs. It will also help to identify barriers to accessing genomics education as well as preferred training methods.

The survey is open now and can be accessed at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/GenomicEducation until September 15. All responses are anonymous and the results will be presented at the NHGRI meeting on September 25-26.

PharmGKB Demo at U-PGx Summer School

PharmGKB recently held a demonstration of the PharmGKB website as part of the U-PGx Summer School in Bonn, Germany. Scientists, clinicians and pharmacists attending the summer school heard from Dr. Rachel Huddart, one of our Scientific Curators, and were introduced to the various types of information found on the PharmGKB website; from Dosing Guidelines to Pathways and Clinical Annotations. Information from PharmGKB formed an important of the participants’ project work later on in the summer school.

The U-PGx summer school group sees PharmGKB in action

 

This was a remote demonstration, with Rachel presenting at the summer school online from our Stanford offices. If you are interested in including a demonstration of the PharmGKB website at your pharmacogenomics event, please get in touch with us at feedback@pharmgkb.org.

Changes to the PharmGKB data licensing, downloads and user accounts

PharmGKB is changing its licensing policy in order to simplify access to files containing annotations and relationships. All of PharmGKB, including these files, are now licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. Users who download or use PharmGKB annotations, knowledge, files, images or screen shots agree to the license requirements, including:

1. Attribution: You must give appropriate credit to PharmGKB, provide a link to this license, and indicate if changes were made. You may do so in any reasonable manner, but not in any way that suggests PharmGKB endorses you or approves of your use.
2. ShareAlike: If you alter, amend, reuse or otherwise change PharmGKB data you agree that if you distribute such product, all recipients shall first agree to be subject to this license. Proof of such agreement shall be made available to PharmGKB. Under no circumstances can PharmGKB data be sold for other's private or commercial use.

More information can be found in the Data Usage Policy.

Users no longer need a PharmGKB account to download relationship or annotation files, nor do they need to fill out a request with detailed information about who they are or how they will use the information. However, we would appreciate it if users would fill out our survey when they download data to help us understand who our users are and what type(s) of information are useful to them so that we may continue to be responsive to user needs.

Another change to PharmGKB is that variant and clinical annotations are viewable on the website without logging in. In fact, PharmGKB users no longer need an account to view or download any data, and we will no longer ask users to create accounts.

For any questions or comments, please send email to feedback.

New PharmGKB pathways for ondansetron and tropisetron

Ondansetron and tropisetron are 5-HT₃ receptor antagonists used to treat nausea and vomiting and are commonly prescribed to patients who have undergone surgery or who are receiving chemotherapy. They are both covered by a CPIC guideline which can be accessed on the CPIC website.

PharmGKB has released two new pathways for these drugs; Ondansetron Pathway, Pharmacokinetics/Pharmacodynamics and Tropisetron Pathway, Pharmacokinetics/Pharmacodynamics. These pathways show the metabolism of both drugs as well as their action at 5-HT₃ receptors on vagal afferent neurons. Key genes involved in the metabolism process are highlighted in the clickable images and described in the accompanying descriptions. Note that although ondansetron and tropisetron have very similar pharmacokinetic pathways, there are important differences between the two. This is why separate pathways have been produced for each drug.

You can view the Ondansetron Pathway,Pharmacokinetics/Pharmacodynamics and the Tropisetron Pathway,Pharmacokinetics/Pharmacodynamics on the PharmGKB website. Annotated versions of the CPIC guideline for ondansetron and tropisetron are also available at the PharmGKB website.