According to information found in a follow-up subanalysis of the RE-LY study on Dabigatran — a treatment alternative to Warfarin for people with AF, researchers found a gene variant that may influence the patient’s bleeding risk.

This gene is found and a carried by approximately 33 percent of the European population. The gene variant is called the CES1 gene single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs2244613. According to information posted on Medscape and as reported by RE-LY investigators, this gene basically “blunts the biotransformation of the drug’s oral etexilate form to active Dabigatran and thereby accentuates its trough serum concentrations.”

What this means is that patients in the RE-LY trial who were taking Dabigatran experienced a 15 percent drop in the minor allele of the SNP. This was correspondent to a 27 percent decrease risk of bleeding. This information could help to explain why the changes in the Dabigatran patients occurred in those that possessed this gene variant.

Dr. Jean-Philippe Collet (Groupe Hospitalier la Pitié-Salpêtrière, Paris, France) says there could be a test that could assess the AF patients that may possess the gene variant, and thereby help researchers figure out the right dosing of Dabigatran to decrease bleeding risks. Collet suggests that researchers perform “an interventional trial… to figure out whether we can improve clinical outcomes by personalizing the use of Dabigatran in our population.”

While this information could help numerous AF patients reduce their bleeding risks by taking Dabigatran, the information won’t help those who are currently taking another anticoagulant medication: Multaq. Multaq is made by Sanofi-Aventis and has been linked to liver failure and a worsening of the heart condition. Because of this, the drug is only recommended for use if other medications for AF fail.

If you or a loved one has suffered from liver failure or a worsening heart condition after being treated with Multaq, contact the attorneys at Greg Jones today for a free consultation. I am experienced at fighting Multaq lawsuits and may be able to help you recover money for your injuries.