Publication “Comprehensive pharmacogenomics profiling of the Serbian population”

Jelovac M, Pavlovic D, Stankovic B, Kotur N, Ristivojevic B, Pavlovic S, Zukic B. Comprehensive pharmacogenomics profiling of the Serbian population. Frontiers in pharmacology. 2025 Mar 17;16:1553536.  https://doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2025.1553536

This study mapped how genetic differences in the Serbian population affect drug response, which represents a key step towards personalized medicine. Researchers analyzed genetic data from 881 Serbian residents and found significant variations in genes such as CYP2B6, NAT2, SLCO1B1, UGT1A1 and VKORC1, all of which affect how the body processes commonly used drugs, including statins and antidepressants. The study found that some of these genetic patterns were significantly different from those of other populations. This means that treatments could be better adapted to the Serbian population using genetic testing. Incorporating these findings into routine health care could make drug prescribing more accurate and efficient, reducing side effects and improving outcomes.

This research is part of Marina Jelovac’s dissertation and was carried out as part of the PharmgenHUB Project, funded by the European Commission as part of the HORIZON-WIDERA Twinning program, and managed by Dr. Branka Zukic.