Side effects are not a side issue: call for more research

Pharmacovigilance is about drug monitoring. The goal is to prevent adverse effects of drug use. Good knowledge about side effects is important for carefully weighing the use of drugs. It is also crucial for timely recognition of side effects and prevention of serious consequences.

Discovering side effects faster by insights into experiences

Discovering new side effects now often takes too long. As a professor of special appointment at LUMC/ Leiden University, Kant is therefore investigating how healthcare experiences can be better utilized to speed this up. Much information about drug use and medical complaints is recorded in patient records. Text mining, searching medical texts for specific terms or combinations of terms, can be used to detect suspected side effects. 

In addition, patients should be asked much more about their experiences with side effects. Kant: “This helps us gain more insight into the course of side effects, how they are dealt with, and what impact they have on daily life. The knowledge this provides, for example also about successful management of side effects, can improve patient care.”

Call for more research

Genetic factors, age, gender and underlying conditions can influence the likelihood of side effects. Pioneering research from LUMC previously showed that DNA profiling can help reduce side effects by 30%. In addition, research shows that women are more likely to experience side effects. “The more we know about who is more likely to experience an adverse reaction and why, the better this can be prevented,” says Kant.

Her oration pays special attention to the use of medications during pregnancy. “Of seven out of ten drugs, we do not know whether they are safe during pregnancy,” says Kant, ”while this is crucial information for pregnant women who need medication.” Also, relatively little is still known about side effects in children and the elderly, where more research could provide valuable information.

Independent fund for research

In addition to calling for more research, Kant calls for an independent fund for drug safety research funded by pharmaceutical companies. “Despite the social importance, there is not enough of this research,” she said.

With her chair, call for more research and plea for an independent fund, Kant wants to contribute to safer use of medicines. And thereby ensure better health and well-being of patients. Because, “Side effects are not a side issue.”