REVIEW

Pharmacogenetics focuses on the relationship between individual gene variants and variable drug effects. The present brief review addresses the importance of pharmacogenetic factors for the efficacy and adverse effects of oral antidiabetic drugs in the therapy of type 2 diabetes mellitus. In particular, genetic polymorphisms of cytochrome P450 drug metabolizing enzymes, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-g gene, TCF7L2 gene regu-lating insulin resistance and secretion and organic cation transporters or organic anion transporting polypeptides modify the individual response to drugs such as metfor-min, thiazolidinediones, sulphonylureas, meglitinides, and DPP4 inhibitors. However, apart from a complex variety of individual factors, genetic heterogeneity makes assessing the role of genetic factors in diabetes therapy for a single individual highly challenging. Continuing advances in pharmacogenetics will uncover further genetic variants that modify responses to diabetes medications and may offer targeted pharmacotherapy to the patient