Press release: The MHRA has announced it will be the first drug safety regulator in the world to pilot its own genetic ‘biobank’

The MHRA announced in May 2023 that it will pilot a new genetic research resource, a ‘biobank’ in collaboration with Genomics England, in order to better understand how a patient’s genetic makeup can impact the safety of their medicines. Named the ‘Yellow Card Biobank’ It will operate alongside the MHRA’s Yellow Card reporting site and will contain genetic data and patient samples. This will allow scientists to determine whether a side effect from a medicine was caused by a specific genetic trait, the idea being that doctors can then target prescriptions using rapid screening tests, so patients will receive the safest medication for them, based on their genetic makeup. It is hoped that this new system helps prevent, rather than react to, adverse drug reactions.

The pilot will being on 1 June 2023, with information on how to get involved available on the Yellow Card Biobank page. Healthcare professionals who have submitted yellow card reports on behalf of patients that are relevant to the research topics from the pilot may be contacted to ask for help in contacting the patient to see if they would like to participate.

The press release is available to read on the UK Government website.