Drug Story On medicine, with Dr. Eric Topol
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Mar 10, 2026 
Dr. Eric Topol, cardiologist, researcher, and founder of Scripps Research Translational Institute, discusses pharmacogenomics, its early promise and why it stalled. He recounts raising alarms about Vioxx and examines post-market drug safety. They explore population sequencing, barriers to clinical genetic testing, longevity hype versus rigorous science, and the role of AI and multimodal data in prevention.
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Many Genomic Drug Signals Are Ignored
- Hundreds of FDA‑labeled drug–genome interactions exist but most are not used in clinic, creating preventable harms.
- Topol notes over 150 drugs with labels could guide dosing or avoid severe reactions if genomics were routine.
A Near‑Fatal Reaction From Skipping Genomic Screening
- A colleague's wife nearly died from Stevens‑Johnson syndrome after carbamazepine because the genotype wasn't checked.
- Topol contrasts U.S. practice with other countries that require genomic screening before prescribing Tegretol.
Make Genomes Routine To Avoid Trial And Error
- Prepare for a future where whole‑genome sequences are routine and pharmacogenomic cards guide prescriptions.
- Topol recommends making sequencing affordable and available so clinicians can avoid trial‑and‑error dosing like with warfarin.
