A simple diagnostic test developed at Oxford University, and launched by Massachusetts-based Boston Heart Diagnostics, will identify those at increased risk of rare but serious side effects from taking cholesterol-lowering statin drugs.
Researchers at Oxford University’s Clinical Trial Service Unit, led by Professor Rory Collins, identified the genetic biomarker SLCO1B1, which is an effective identifier of patients at increased risk of myopathy, which is characterised by the onset of muscle aches, pains and weakness associated with statin therapy.