Eudragene

Description

Eudragene is a European collaboration that established a collection of DNA samples as a resource for studying genes which influence serious or adverse drug reactions (ADRs). Identifying genes that influence susceptibility to adverse reactions will advance understanding of the basis of adverse drug reactions and may also lead to the development of tests that can predict individual susceptibility to adverse reactions.

In the first year they will select for study an initial set of six ADRs that are important because they cause serious illness in a small number of those exposed to drugs that are otherwise more effective than any alternative, and that are easily identified because they produce distinctive conditions that are not related to the disease for which the drug was prescribed. These include 1) muscle inflammation (myopathy) caused by cholesterol lowering drugs 2) low white cell blood count (agranulocytosis) caused by (i) thyroid drugs, (ii) sulphasalazine (used to treat inflammatory bowel conditions and rheumatoid arthritis) or (iii) clozapine antipsychotics 3) tendinitis and tendon rupture caused by fluoroquinolone antibiotics 4) long QT syndrome (abnormality of the heart electrical system) caused by several classes of drug including anti-arrhythmic agents, antibiotics and antipsychotic agents, 5) liver injury caused by non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and 6) neuropsychiatric reactions caused by mefloquine antimalarials.

At least 500 cases of each ADR will be collected, together with an equal number of healthy volunteers. The coordinating centre will manage the database, and will make samples freely available to academic and industry-based researchers throughout Europe. The collection will be extended to include more ADRs after the first 1-2 years, based on problems of current concern.