Making the Most of the Pharmacogenomics Opportunity: What the Latest PJ Roundtable Means for the NHS and Industry

A recent feature in The Pharmaceutical Journal has brought renewed focus to one of the most strategically important questions in UK healthcare: how can the NHS fully realise the pharmacogenomics opportunity?

The roundtable discussion that included Jackie O'Brien, held at the Royal Pharmaceutical Society, highlighted both the promise and the practical barriers facing large‑scale PGx implementation.

A System with Ambition

The UK government's 10‑year health plan sets out a bold vision: newborn genome sequencing, a national genomic dataset, and a genomics‑enabled NHS workforce. Yet the article makes clear that progress is being held back by fragmented systems, unclear testing models, and the absence of a fully costed implementation strategy.

Paediatrics, despite leading in rare disease genomics, faces unique challenges:

• Different physiology and disease profiles

• Distinct risk–benefit considerations

• Limited evidence for population‑wide PGx testing

• Complex consent and data‑storage requirements

Why This Matters for Industry

The roundtable echoed a message we hear consistently across the UK Industry Pharmacogenomics Network: industry cannot build the technologies, panels, decision‑support tools, and workforce training solutions the NHS needs without clarity on long‑term direction.

Key needs identified include:

• A clear national testing model (panel vs whole genome)

• Interoperable systems for storing and using PGx data

• Commissioned pathways with sustainable funding

• Workforce training that includes paediatrics from the outset

• Regulatory and guideline development that supports innovation

The Risk of Standing Still

Without long‑term investment and coordinated national leadership, the UK risks losing its global advantage in genomics. The article warns that piecemeal funding and isolated pilots will not deliver a genomics‑enabled NHS by 2035.

The Opportunity Ahead

Despite the challenges, the opportunity remains extraordinary. Pharmacogenomics can reduce avoidable adverse drug reactions, improve therapeutic outcomes, and ensure all including children receive the safest and most effective medicines from the start.

Realising this vision requires:

• NHS commitment

• Industry partnership

• Academic leadership

• A workforce equipped for genomic prescribing

• Infrastructure that supports lifelong use of genomic data

The roundtable reinforces what our network has long advocated: the UK has the expertise, the ambition, and the momentum — but now needs the actions, investment, and system design to turn potential into practice.