Turning the NHS’s Genomics Vision into Everyday Reality
According to UK Biobank research, 99.5% of people carry at least one genetic variant that could alter their response to a commonly prescribed drug. Yet, for most NHS patients, that information is never checked before treatment begins.
This means we’re often relying on trial-and-error prescribing, even though 24% of people in the UK have already been prescribed a drug for which they may have an atypical genetic response. In some cases, these variants can mean a medicine simply doesn’t work. In others, it increases the risk of serious side effects.
The NHS Fit for the Future: 10-Year Health Plan recognises this gap and sets out an ambition to embed pharmacogenetic testing into mainstream care. At AttoDiagnostics, we’re ready to help turn that ambition into a daily reality.
From Policy to Practice
The 10-Year Plan calls for:
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Population-scale genomic programmes to move from research to everyday use.
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Integration of pharmacogenomics NHS data into prescribing workflows.
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Point-of-care testing for same-day, genetically informed prescribing decisions.
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Polypharmacy reviews that include genetic insight to reduce adverse drug reactions (ADRs).
With tools like AttoDiagnostics’ precision prescribing platform, this future isn’t 2035—it can start today.
Two Medicines That Show the Urgency
Clopidogrel
Clopidogrel is a life-saving antiplatelet drug, given after heart attacks or stent procedures. But it only works once it’s activated by the CYP2C19 enzyme. However, up to 30% of patients carry variants that reduce activation, hence compromising the treatment outcome.
For those patients, the drug’s benefit is dramatically reduced, leaving them at higher risk of another cardiovascular event. PGx testing can flag this before the prescription is written.
Statins
Statins are one of the most prescribed medicines in the NHS, but side effects like muscle pain or fatigue can lead to patients stopping treatment. Certain genetic variants influence statin metabolism, especially for drugs like rosuvastatin and simvastatin.
Testing before starting treatment can help select the right statin and dose, improving adherence and outcomes.
The Broader Picture – NHS-Wide Impact
The UK Biobank data is a wake-up call:
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99.5% of people have at least one actionable variant.
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24% have already been prescribed a drug for which they may have an atypical response.
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10–15% carry a mutation in the CYP2D6 pathway — a major route for metabolising antidepressants, opioids, and other widely used medicines.
If even a fraction of these cases lead to avoidable side effects, hospital admissions, or ineffective treatments, the cost to the NHS runs into hundreds of millions of pounds annually.
From Large-Scale Data to Local Action
Population genomics and NHS genetic screening programmes are creating unprecedented datasets. But the benefit comes when those results are actionable in a GP clinic, hospital ward, or community pharmacy.
AttoDiagnostics bridges that gap:
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Testing that covers over 120 medications and 37 genes.
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Integrated reporting that fits into NHS prescribing systems.
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Clear, clinically relevant recommendations for each patient.
The Financial and Patient Case
Adverse drug reactions (ADRs) are not a marginal issue — they affect around 15% of hospital in-patients in the UK, with more than a quarter of those cases leading directly to extended hospital stays (Davies et al., 2009). That translates into thousands of beds occupied at any one time because of preventable medication harm. Pharmacogenetic testing offers a route to reduce this burden, saving the NHS significant costs while protecting patients from unnecessary harm.
The NHS right to choose ADHD services, statin prescribing, cancer therapies, and post-cardiac care all stand to benefit.
A Call to Action
The government’s plan sets the right direction, but there’s no reason why change can’t start right away.
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Deliver additional pharmacogenetic testing NHS pilots in high-impact areas like cardiovascular disease, mental health, and pain management.
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Embed PGx results into the NHS App and prescribing software for real-time decision-making.
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Capture health-economic data to prove value early.
AttoDiagnostics is ready to work with the NHS, clinicians, and commissioners to deliver on the promise of precision prescribing—so every patient gets the right drug, at the right dose, the first time.