Using Pharmacogenetics to Improve Drug Safety and Efficacy

Randomised by (your) god: robust inference from an observational study design

“…Such increased knowledge of disease mechanism and mode of drug action may offer more to public health than the supposed benefits of ''personalised medicine''. 35 …”

The association of apolipoprotein E polymorphism and lipid levels in children with a family history of premature coronary artery disease

“…4,5 The apoE gene, located on human chromosome 19, is 3.7 kb in length and contains four exons. The gene is polymorphic with three common alleles, 32,33, and 34, resulting in six main genotypes ( 32 32, 32 33, 32 34, 33 33, 33 34, and 34 34). 4,6 Each apoE gene polymorphism also has an effect on the level of its gene product; 32 is associated with greater concentrations of apoE and 34 with lower concentrations.…”

Pharmacogenetic study of statin therapy in cholesterol reduction

“…Application of this new technology has the potential to enhance the safety and efficacy of drug therapy. In an editorial accompanying the Chasman report, Haga and Burke [5] caution that "only prospective intervention trials can confirm the safety and effectiveness of genotype-tailored dosages or alternative therapies…" The design and conduct of these studies will require collaboration among geneticists, epidemiologists, and clinical investigators.…”