It is widely recognized that drug response, in terms of efficacy and toxicity, depends on several determinants including a number of host-related factors. Among these factors, mainly represented by age, genetics, organ function, concomitant medications, sex is also included. From a terminological point of view, the term “sex” is associated with biological functions whereas the term “gender” is mainly associated with culture, environment and social aspects. However, these terms, although separate, are highly intertwined.
From a historical point of view, the first evidence of a difference between sexes in pharmacology was in 1932 when Nicholas and Barron showed the marked differences in a safe dose of hexobarbital between female and male rats. Today, most of the available knowledge on sex differences in pharmacology concerns pharmacokinetic data and, to a lesser extent, pharmacodynamic data with a major impact on toxicity than on efficacy.
However, 90 years on from the findings of Nicholas and Barron, and despite the attention that international drug agencies (e.g. FDA, EMA) as well as international research programs promoted by the most important organizations (e.g. H2020 EU programs and beyond) are dedicating to this issue, the concept that sex may affect drug response is still not supported by adequate sex/gender-oriented research. Thus, current clinical practice does not consider sex/gender difference in the administration of drugs.
The aim of this Article Collection is to collect original papers and reviews on the topic of sex/gender-oriented pharmacological research able to contribute to the improvement of the current knowledge on this topic.
All the areas of pharmacology may be covered through the most innovative approaches at preclinical, translational or clinical level.
Some examples (but not limited to) of specific pharmacological areas that can be covered are:
- Cardiovascular pharmacology
- Neuropharmacology
- Pharmacology of anticancer drugs
- Pharmacology of infectious diseases
- Pharmacology of inflammation
Pharmacokinetic, pharmacodynamic, pharmacogenetic and pharmacogenomic studies on such pharmacological areas are welcome.
