If genetic differences between racial demographics are so small why does testing for clinical drugs need so many representative samples?

Question

Seems like a contradiction to me. If we are saying the majority of humans are incredibly genetically similar except for some genes that code for pigmentation but also there are reduced clinical efficacy for drugs based on certain races. I can understand outliers like sickle cell anemia but this diversity of sampling is required for every drug.

When they do clinical testing, pharma companies try to pull from different racial groups to ensure their drug works across demographics. If we were that genetically similar then wouldn’t pulling from one group primarily do the job?

Please don’t make this a white supermacist thing. I don’t believe in that stuff. Legitimately just curious.

In: 2

Answer 1

Instead of thinking about the human genetics, think about it in terms of cannabis. If you take a single strain and provide it to multiple people, you’re going to get multiple side effects reported. Tired, dizzy, munchies, paranoia, etc. It comes down to how your body processes the different cannabinoids and compounds within the trichomes.Now take that to something that has side effects that are potentially hazardous (bleeding, allergic reactions, etc). As a clinician you will want to know what causes that side effect, and how different changes in physiology play a roll.People with higher metabolism for example would process a time released agent faster than someone with a slower metabolism.Possibly they’re looking at glaucoma and how the genetic differences that cause eye colour also effects how the patient’s glaucoma progresses.

A side note: This is also one of the reasons that a medical professional may ask your gender at birth. Regardless of gender assignment, a “genetically female” body has differing hormones and chemicals then a “genetically male” body. Creatine values in the body, for example, play a major roll in cancer treatment. Male and female patients need different dose calculations because of their different CrCl (creatine clearance) values, BSA, BMI, etc. If you’re a trans male (F to M) and inform the doctor that you’re genetically male, the dose that you’re given could kill you.