(PITTSBURGH) All people carry differences in their DNA that could affect how they respond to medication, according to my team’s newly published research. Moreover, 1 in 4 already take a medication their body processes differently because of their genetics.
Clinicians often take a trial and error approach to prescriptions. Two people take the same medicine at the same dose. One starts feeling better, but the other experiences side effects or sees little benefit. For some medications, part of the reason behind that difference in response is written in a person’s DNA.
kAm%96 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]454]8@G^86?@>:4D\2?5\962=E9^A92C>24@86?@>:4D^Qm7:6=5 @7 A92C>24@86?@>:4Dk^2m DEF5:6D 9@H G2C:2E:@?D :? J@FC s}p 4@?EC:3FE6 E@ 9@H J@FC 3@5J AC@46DD6D 2?5 C6DA@?5D E@ >65:4:?6D] u@C :?DE2?46[ 86?6D 42? :?7=F6?46 9@H BF:4<=J J@FC k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^H9J\AC6D4C:AE:@?\5CF8D\42?\H@C<\5:776C6?E=J\7@C\5:776C6?E\A6@A=6\`egecdQm=:G6C 3C62<D 5@H? 2 5CF8k^2m 2?5 9@H =@?8 :E DE2JD :? J@FC 3=@@5DEC62>]k^Am
kAmqFE FD:?8 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^42?\2E\9@>6\5?2\E6DED\AC65:4E\9@H\J@F==\C6DA@?5\E@\J@FC\>65:42E:@?D\A92C>24:DED\6IA=2:?\E96\C:D<D\2?5\36?67:ED\@7\A92C>24@86?6E:4\E6DE:?8\a_hb`aQm86?6E:4 E6DE:?8 E@ 8F:56 AC6D4C:AE:@?Dk^2m :D ?@E J6E C@FE:?6] !2CE @7 E96 AC@3=6> :D 2 =24< @7 =2C86 A@AF=2E:@? 52E2 E@ DEF5J E9:D 2AAC@249 >@C6 3C@25=J] r=:?:4:2?D 5@?’E <?@H H96? :E’D 36DE E@ @C56C 86?6E:4 E6DE:?8] p?5 3642FD6 >@DE 86?6E:4 C6D62C49 92D 366? k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^F?4@G6C:?8\E96\86?6E:4\32D:D\@7\>6?E2=\:==?6DD\C6BF:C6D\52E2\2?5\E@@=D\E92E\2C6?E\;FDE\32D65\@?\H9:E6\A6@A=6\E9:D\:?E6C?2E:@?2=\E62>\:D\4@==64E:?8\5?2\D2>A=6D\2C@F?5\E96\8=@36\`gdhhfQm5@?6 @? A6@A=6 @7 tFC@A62? 2?46DECJk^2m[ C6D62C496CD <?@H =6DD 23@FE 9@H 4@>>@? <6J 86?6 G2C:2?ED 2C6 :? 6G6CJ@?6 6=D6]k^Am
k9amv6?6E:4 G2C:2?ED 2?5 5CF8Dk^9am
kAm%@ :>AC@G6 E96 5:G6CD:EJ @7 A92C>24@86?@>:4 52E2[ >J E62> @7 C6D62C496CD k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^D49@=2C]8@@8=6]4@>^4:E2E:@?DnFD6Cl{zvb`~<ppppyU2>Aj9=l6?Qm2?5 xk^2m 2?2=JK65 E96 H9@=6 86?@>6 D6BF6?46D 2?5 962=E9 C64@C5D @7 ?62C=J `__[___ A2CE:4:A2?ED :? E96 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]?:9]8@G^2==@7FDQmp== @7 &D #6D62C49 !C@8C2>k^2m] p== @7 &D :D 2? 677@CE 7C@> E96 }2E:@?2= x?DE:EFE6D @7 w62=E9 E@ DEF5J E96 962=E9 @7 ` >:==:@? @C >@C6 A6@A=6 24C@DD E96 &]$] 2?5 :ED E6CC:E@C:6D[ H:E9 2 7@4FD @? 8C@FAD 9:DE@C:42==J =67E @FE @7 3:@>65:42= C6D62C49]k^Am
k7:8FC6mk:7C2>6 H:5E9lQcc_Q 96:89ElQae_Q DC4lQ9EEADi^^HHH]J@FEF36]4@>^6>365^E:d_?$fqdGxnH>@56lEC2?DA2C6?EU2>AjDE2CEl_Q 7C2>63@C56ClQ_Q 2==@H7F==D4C66?lQQmk^:7C2>6mk7:842AE:@?mp== @7 &D D66<D E@ :?4C62D6 E96 5:G6CD:EJ @7 3:@>65:42= C6D62C49 52E2]k^7:842AE:@?mk^7:8FC6m
kAm(6 6I2>:?65 `e 86?6D H:E9 H6==\6DE23=:D965 =:?<D E@ 9@H D@>6@?6 C6DA@?5D E@ 5:776C6?E >65:42E:@?D[ A2:C:?8 E9:D 52E2 H:E9 6=64EC@?:4 962=E9 C64@C5D E@ :56?E:7J H9:49 5CF8D A2CE:4:A2?ED 925 2=C625J E2<6?]k^Am
kAm(6 7@F?5 E92E 6G6CJ A2CE:4:A2?E k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^5@:]@C8^`_]``ae^D4:EC2?D=>65]25Eg_c_Qm42CC:65 2E =62DE @?6 C6=6G2?E 86?6E:4 G2C:2?Ek^2m[ 2?5 >2?J 42CC:65 D6G6C2=] pC@F?5 hh]dT @7 A2CE:4:A2?ED 925 2 86?6E:4 G2C:2?E 7@C H9:49 E96 u@@5 2?5 sCF8 p5>:?:DEC2E:@? @C >65:42= 8F:56=:?6D C64@>>6?5 2 5:776C6?E 5CF8 @C 492?86 :? 5@D6 7@C 46CE2:? >65:42E:@?D]k^Am
kAmtG6? >@C6 E6==:?8[ 23@FE acT 925 E2<6? 2 5CF8 E92E :D k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^5@:]@C8^`_]``ae^D4:EC2?D=>65]25Eg_c_Qm27764E65 3J 2 86?6E:4 G2C:2?Ek^2m E96J 42CC:65] r@>>@? 6I2>A=6D :?4=F565 5CF8D FD65 E@ C65F46 6I46DD DE@>249 24:5[ DF49 2D @>6AC2K@=6 2?5 A2?E@AC2K@=6[ 2?5 DE2E:?D FD65 E@ =@H6C 49@=6DE6C@= =6G6=D] q642FD6 962=E9 C64@C5D 42? 36 :?4@>A=6E6[ @FC C6DF=ED =:<6=J F?56C6DE:>2E6 E96 24EF2= AC6G2=6?46 @7 E96D6 86?6\5CF8 :?E6C24E:@?D]k^Am
kAm%96D6 7:?5:?8D 42? 96=A :>AC@G6 E96 52E232D6D 4=:?:4:2?D 2?5 C6D62C496CD FD6 C@FE:?6=J :? C6D62C49] (6 :56?E:7:65 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^5@:]@C8^`_]``ae^D4:EC2?D=>65]25Eg_c_Qm`f[f_c AC6G:@FD=J F?C6A@CE65 G2C:2?EDk^2m :? E96 C68:@?D @7 E96D6 86?6D E92E 6?4@56 AC@E6:?D] r@>AFE6C >@56=D AC65:4E65 E92E 23@FE 2 BF2CE6C >2J 92G6 D:8?:7:42?E 67764ED @? 9@H E96 3@5J AC@46DD6D 5CF8D]k^Am
kAm~FC E62> 2=D@ C6A@CE65 E96 7C6BF6?4:6D @7 9F?5C65D @7 86?6E:4 G2C:2?ED =:?<65 E@ 5CF8 C6DA@?D6 7@C A6@A=6 7C@> 86?6E:4 2?46DEC:6D E92E AC6G:@FD=J 925 :?4@>A=6E6 52E2]k^Am
k9amx>AC@G:?8 AC64:D:@? >65:4:?6k^9am
kAm~G6C2==[ @FC C6D62C49 D9@HD E92E s}p G2C:2E:@? :D G6CJ 4@>>@?[ 2?5 3C@256C 86?6E:4 E6DE:?8 >2J 96=A @AE:>:K6 E96 >65:42E:@?D 4=:?:4:2?D AC6D4C:36 E@ A2E:6?ED] xE’D 2=D@ 2? 6I2>A=6 @7 9@H 3:8 :?:E:2E:G6D DF49 2D E96 p== @7 &D #6D62C49 !C@8C2> 42? 25G2?46 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^A6CD@?2=:K65\42?46C\EC62E>6?ED\32D65\@?\E6DE:?8\5CF8D\BF:4<=J\=625D\E@\72DE6C\EC62E>6?E\36EE6C\@FE4@>6D\aa`cehQmAC64:D:@? >65:4:?6k^2m]k^Am
kAmw@H6G6C[ E9:D DEF5J 5@6D?’E AC@G6 E6DE:?8 H@F=5 :>AC@G6 @FE4@>6D 7@C 6249 @7 E96D6 A6@A=6] p55:E:@?2==J[ 86?6D 2C6 @?=J @?6 724E@Cj 286[ <:5?6J 2?5 =:G6C 7F?4E:@?[ 2?5 @E96C >65:42E:@?D 2=D@ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^H9J\AC6D4C:AE:@?\5CF8D\42?\H@C<\5:776C6?E=J\7@C\5:776C6?E\A6@A=6\`egecdQm27764E 9@H E96 3@5J AC@46DD6D 5CF8Dk^2m]k^Am
kAm$E:==[ x 36=:6G6 E96 5:C64E:@? @7 E96 C6D62C49 :D 4=62C] !92C>24@86?@>:4D 42? AC@G:56 A@E6?E:2==J C6=6G2?E 36?67:ED 7@C >2?J A6@A=6 H9@ E2<6 >65:42E:@?D]k^Am
kAmk6>m%9:D 2CE:4=6 :D C6AF3=:D965 7C@> k2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^FDnFE>0D@FC46l{66U2>AjFE>0>65:F>lC6=2E65\=:?<U2>AjFE>042>A2:8?lC6=2E65\=:?<\_U2>AjFE>04@?E6?El2CE:4=6\ahebdaQm%96 r@?G6CD2E:@?k^2m[ 2 ?@?AC@7:E[ :?56A6?56?E ?6HD @C82?:K2E:@? 3C:?8:?8 J@F 724ED 2?5 ECFDEH@CE9J 2?2=JD:D E@ 96=A J@F >2<6 D6?D6 @7 @FC 4@>A=6I H@C=5] xE H2D HC:EE6? 3Ji kDA2?mk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^AC@7:=6D^A9:=:A\6>A6J\`cddfehnFE>0D@FC46l{66U2>AjFE>0>65:F>lC6=2E65\=:?<U2>AjFE>042>A2:8?l3J=:?6\=:?<U2>AjFE>04@?E6?El2CE:4=6\ahebdaQm!9:=:A t>A6Jk^2m[ k6>mk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^:?DE:EFE:@?D^F?:G6CD:EJ\@7\A:EED3FC89\gdcnFE>0D@FC46l{66U2>AjFE>0>65:F>lC6=2E65\=:?<U2>AjFE>042>A2:8?l3J=:?6\=:?<U2>AjFE>04@?E6?El2CE:4=6\ahebdaQm&?:G6CD:EJ @7 !:EED3FC89k^2mk^6>mk^DA2?mk^6>mk^Am
kAmkDEC@?8m#625 >@C6ik^DEC@?8mk^Am
kF=mk=:mk2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^42?\2E\9@>6\5?2\E6DED\AC65:4E\9@H\J@F==\C6DA@?5\E@\J@FC\>65:42E:@?D\A92C>24:DED\6IA=2:?\E96\C:D<D\2?5\36?67:ED\@7\A92C>24@86?6E:4\E6DE:?8\a_hb`anFE>0D@FC46l{66U2>AjFE>0>65:F>lC6=2E65\=:?<U2>AjFE>042>A2:8?lC6=2E65\=:?<_U2>AjFE>04@?E6?El2CE:4=6\ahebdaQmr2? 2E‑9@>6 s}p E6DED AC65:4E 9@H J@F’== C6DA@?5 E@ J@FC >65:42E:@?Dn !92C>24:DED 6IA=2:? E96 C:D<D 2?5 36?67:ED @7 A92C>24@86?6E:4 E6DE:?8k^2mk^=:mk=:mk2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^D@>6\2?E:56AC6DD2?ED\>2J\H@C<\36EE6C\E92?\@E96CD\=@?8\E6C>\?6H\DEF5J\ahe`d`nFE>0D@FC46l{66U2>AjFE>0>65:F>lC6=2E65\=:?<U2>AjFE>042>A2:8?lC6=2E65\=:?<`U2>AjFE>04@?E6?El2CE:4=6\ahebdaQm$@>6 2?E:56AC6DD2?ED >2J H@C< 36EE6C E92? @E96CD =@?8 E6C> – ?6H DEF5Jk^2mk^=:mk=:mk2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^H9J\AC6D4C:AE:@?\5CF8D\42?\H@C<\5:776C6?E=J\7@C\5:776C6?E\A6@A=6\`egecdnFE>0D@FC46l{66U2>AjFE>0>65:F>lC6=2E65\=:?<U2>AjFE>042>A2:8?lC6=2E65\=:?<aU2>AjFE>04@?E6?El2CE:4=6\ahebdaQm(9J AC6D4C:AE:@? 5CF8D 42? H@C< 5:776C6?E=J 7@C 5:776C6?E A6@A=6k^2mk^=:mk^F=m
kA 4=2DDlQ7:?6\AC:?EQmk6>mkDA2?m!9:=:A t>A6J C646:G6D 7F?5:?8 7C@> E96 }xw[ '6E6C2?D p5>:?:DEC2E:@?[ $962C u2>:=J u@F?52E:@? 2?5 |J6CD u2>:=J u@F?52E:@?]k^DA2?mk^6>mk^Am
kAmk:>8 DC4lQ9EEADi^^4@F?E6C]E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^4@?E6?E^ahebda^4@F?E]8:7n5:DEC:3FE@Cl=66Q DEJ=6lQ96:89Ei`AIjH:5E9i`AIjQ 2=ElQQ ^mk^Am
