Skin Color May Affect How Well Medications Work: Researchers

Experts argue that skin pigmentation may affect drug interactions and efficacy, potentially changing how clinical trials should be approached.

BNP Design Studio, Kolonko/Shutterstock

In a call for change, some researchers are urging the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to consider an often-overlooked factor in drug trials: the color of a patient’s skin.

An article published in Human Genomics on Oct. 9 suggests that melanin, the skin pigment responsible for skin tone, can bind to drug compounds and may significantly influence how medications interact with the body.