In a new study, an analysis of 5,749 patients who received dalcetrapib or placebo and provided DNA in a clinical study found a strong association between the effects of dalcetrapib and a specific gene called ADCY9 (adenylate cyclase 9) on chromosome 16, particularly for a specific genetic variant (rs1967309).

In patients with the genetic profile AA at rs1967309, there was a 39% reduction in the composite cardiovascular endpoint with dalcetrapib compared to placebo. Supporting evidence was also obtained from a second study, which showed that patients with the favorable genetic profile also benefited from a reduction in the thickness of their carotid artery walls with dalcetrapib.  

Cardiovascular disease is linked to clinical outcomes including heart attacks, strokes, unstable angina, coronary revascularizations and cardiovascular deaths. They said these patients also benefit from a reduction in the amount of atherosclerosis (thickened walls) in their vessels. 

"These results will lead to a genetics-guided clinical study in patients with the appropriate genetic background to allow review by health regulatory agencies and to provide personalized therapy with dalcetrapib. It also offers great hope for precision treatments for patients with cardiovascular diseases and for curbing atherosclerosis, the first cause of mortality in the world," said lead investigator Jean-Claude Tardif MD, director of the Research Center at the Montreal Heart Institute and professor of medicine at the University of Montreal. 

The investigators tested multiple genetic markers across the entire genome using a genome-wide association study. 

"We used state-of-the-art genetic and statistical techniques to demonstrate that the effect of the patient's genetic profile was only observed in those treated with dalcetrapib and not placebo. We want to provide patients with additional personalized cardiovascular therapies in the years to come, for more efficacious and safer medicines", commented Marie-Pierre Dubé PhD, director of the Beaulieu-Saucier Pharmacogenomics Center at the Montreal Heart Institute and professor of medicine at the University of Montreal.

Published in Circulation Cardiovascular Genetics.