How can pharmacists learn about PGx?

In this episode, I discuss pharmacogenomics (PGx) with Dr. Dave Kisor from Manchester University College of Pharmacy (Fort Wayne, IN). Dave is a PGx Educator, Consultant, and Author. If you’re interested in pharmacogenomics, you will like this episode!

Bio (Feb 2023)

Dave Kisor, PharmD is professor and director of pharmacogenomics at Manchester University. He graduated from The Ohio State University College of Pharmacy 1986 and completed a two-year fellowship in therapeutic drug monitoring/pharmacokinetics at OSU. Prior to joining Manchester, Dave was professor of pharmaceutical sciences at Ohio Northern University after being a research scientist at Burroughs Wellcome Co/GlaxoWellcome. He has been a clinical PGx consultant since 2012. He has over 80 peer reviewed publications including being the lead author on two pharmacogenomics textbooks. He is a past chair of the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (AACP) PGx SIG. Dave was named a Fellow of the American College of Clinical Pharmacology in 2017. In 2021 he received an AACP Innovations in PGx Teaching Award. His current research is related to PGx and opioid use disorder. He also serves as co-chair of the Pharmacogenomics Global Research Network (PGRN) Education Committee.

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Highlights from our conversation

We both graduated with a BS Degree in Pharmacy from The University of Toledo in Toledo, Ohio. Go Rockets! He earned his PharmD from The Ohio State University and met his wife of 37 years there.

I heard Dr. Kisor speak at The MidYear Meeting of The Ohio Pharmacists Association in November 2022. He knows his PGx facts and is passionate about sharing what he knows with other pharmacists.

Dave proposed that the adoption of pharmacokinetics (PK) and the adoption of pharmacogenomics (PGx) are similar. Some adopted PK slowly, just like many are adopting PGx slowly. When the value of the PK was proven, it was widely adopted. He’s seeing the same with PGx.

I first became curious about PGx when I read about it in Pharmacist’s Letter (monthly pharmacist CE newsletter). Dr. Kisor became interested in PGx in the 1990’s while teaching at Ohio Northern University (ONU). The Human Genome Project inspired him to learn more about PGx. He taught an elective on PGx at ONU. Picking a trend isn’t easy, but Dr. Kisor envisioned that PGx would hold a lot of value for patients and be another service pharmacists could provide in the future. He was right!

According to Dr. Kisor, PGx is required in pharmacy school curricula now. The extent to which it is taught varies, but it is required. Starting in 2016, Manchester University in Ft. Wayne, IN offers a MS Degree in PGx. A dual-degree program is also available: MS PGx and PharmD. Mariam S Yasin, PharmD from episode 137 of The Pharmacist’s Voice ® Podcast graduated with dual degrees (MS PGx and PharmD) from Manchester University in 2022.

Patients need pharmacists to know about PGx. According to Dr. Kisor, over 25% of the top 200 drugs prescribed in the US have PGx implications. There are now also direct-to-consumer (DTC) PGx tests (example: 23andMe). Patients or prescribers may call on pharmacists to interpret information from their reports. Be ready to answer questions.

How can a pharmacist learn about PGx without going through a MS PGx Program?

1. PGx 101 (with Dan Krinsky and Sue Paul)
2. PGx Consulting Confidence Academy (with Jamie Wilkey, PharmD)
3. AdvanCE 2-hour CE on PGx and Commonly Prescribed Medications (FREE)
4. PGx Certificate Training Programs, such as CEimpact

What resources can pharmacist use to research PGx questions?

1. Clinical Pharmacogenetics Implementation Consortium (CPIC)
2. PharmGKB

If you’re new to PGx, do some CE, and check out the CPIC and PharmGKB websites. Then, work your way through scenarios patients may present to you. (“Professor Kim” is giving you homework! 😉)

PGx testing for newborns may be the next big trend. The information will be available for their entire lifetime. Picking the right medication and preventing drug-related problems will help patients and also save the US healthcare system money.

“An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” – Benjamin Franklin.

Some DTC tests are available for hundreds of dollars. It’s a one-time test that could lead to cost-savings for insurers, decreased primary care visits, decreased emergency department visits, and fewer hospital days. Unfortunately, prescribers seem slow to adopt PGx testing.

What’s next for PGx?

- An increase in the demand for pharmacists who know about PGx. Ex: VA System (https://www.usajobs.gov/)
- Payment to pharmacists from payers (Ex: private insurers and CMS).
- Decrease in adverse drug reactions
- Improved access to education about PGx [in Ohio and beyond]
- PGx will become a standard part of patient care.
- PGx training may open doors for leadership roles for pharmacists .

What’s next for Dr. Kisor?

- He is retiring from teaching at Manchester University in May 2023. (Congratulations! 🥳)
- He wants to spend time with his wife, children, and grandchildren.
- Hiking and spending time in nature.
- Reconnecting with past students.

Links from this episode

Manchester University MS Degree in PGx

The University of Toledo College of Pharmacy

The Ohio State University College of Pharmacy

Ohio Northern University College of Pharmacy

Dr. Dave Kisor on LinkedIn

dfkisor@manchester.edu

dave@pgxed.com

Pharmacogenomics: Foundations Competencies in the Pharmacists’ Patient Care Process by David Kisor, PharmD et al

23andMe (Pharmacogenetics for Healthcare Professionals)

VA Jobs https://www.usajobs.gov/

The Ohio Pharmacists Association