The Yellow Card Biobank, a genetic biobank project launched by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and Genomics England, has started recruiting patients taking direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) to see if there is a link between their genetic make-up and the adverse effects some patients suffer.

By collecting genetic samples from patients who have experienced suspected side effects, the Yellow Card Biobank aims to create a resource of genetic information that could help researchers to determine whether a suspected side effect was caused by a specific genetic trait.

This could, in turn, enable healthcare professionals to personalise prescriptions using rapid screening tests, so patients receive the safest medication for them, based on their genetic makeup.

Adverse drug reactions (ADRs) continue to be a significant burden on the NHS and account for one in 16 hospital admissions. Screening tests would provide an opportunity to prevent ADRs from happening.

The Yellow Card Biobank launched in June 2023. The initial phase of the pilot is looking at allopurinol and related rare severe skin reactions, including Stevens-Johnson Syndrome (SJS) and Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis (TEN).

Recruitment for this study has been underway for some months and the sequencing of the participants’ genetic material will begin this Spring, with initial research findings expected in 2025.

DOACs (rivaroxaban, dabigatran, apixaban, and edoxaban) have been linked to severe bleeding, which can be potentially serious and life threatening. The Yellow Card Biobank is exploring whether some people are at a higher risk of severe bleeding due to their genetic make-up.

Healthcare professionals who have submitted a Yellow Card report about side effects for the drugs being studied may be contacted directly to discuss the case further. Project managers may ask you to contact the patient on their behalf to ask if they will participate in the Yellow Card Biobank.