Under Study: Drugs Customized to You

Monday, July 29, 2002

ROCHESTER, MINN. — Some day, your doctor may be able to determine what drugs — and what doses — are most likely to work for you based on your genes, according to the August issue of Mayo Clinic Health Letter.

Your genes affect the way your body responds to medications. A map of the human genetic structure called the Human Genome Project is helping researchers draw links between specific genes and their role in reactions to specific drugs. For example, some adverse reactions to many common drugs, including ibuprofen and warfarin, have already been found to have an underlying genetic cause.

Widespread genetic testing to customize medications isn't available yet due to the complexity and cost of genetic testing. But in the future, a single blood sample may provide your doctor with the ability to screen for variant genes that cause adverse reactions to many drugs. It's hoped that this process will make prescriptions safer and more effective, and medical care more focused and less expensive.

Shelly Plutowski 507-284-5005 (days) 507-284-2511 (evenings) e-mail: newsbureau@mayo.edu

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