Biobank
About Yellow Card Biobank
The Yellow Card Biobank is a collaboration between the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and Genomics England. Its goal is to improve understanding of how a patient’s genetic makeup may increase their risk of harm from side effects of medications. The Biobank is currently investigating specific medicines for a research project called the Yellow Card Biobank study.
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Why the Biobank is important
Adverse Drug Reactions (ADRs), or side effects, continue to be a significant burden on the NHS and account for 1 in 6 hospital admissions. The Biobank forms part of a long-term vision for more personalised medicine approaches; understanding the underlying mechanism of an adverse reaction would support the development of pharmacogenetic testing strategies prior to a doctor prescribing a medicine, so patients across the UK will receive the safest medication for them, based on their genetic makeup.
The side effects we are studying
The Biobank is working on side-effects relating to GLP-1 medicines, Allopurinol, and Direct Oral Anticoagulants. At this time, the Biobank is no longer enrolling new participants onto these studies.
GLP-1 medicines are prescribed to support weight loss and diabetes management, alongside other indications. These medicines have a rare potential side effect of acute pancreatitis (inflamed pancreas). The Yellow Card Biobank is investigating whether the risk of acute pancreatitis from GLP-1 injections for weight loss and Type 2 diabetes may be influenced by an individual’s genes. Find more information about this topic here. See our press release for more information.
For patients taking Allopurinol and experiencing a severe skin reaction, including Stevens-Johnson Syndrome (SJS), Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis (TEN), or Drug Reaction with Eosinophilia and Systemic Symptoms (DRESS) syndrome. The Yellow Card Biobank hopes to confirm existing genetic links between Allopurinol and severe skin reactions, which will help healthcare professionals make safer and more effective prescribing decisions in the future. See our press release for more information.
Direct Oral Anticoagulants (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 when taking these drugs due to their genetic makeup, with the overall aim of reducing the occurrence of serious side effects. See our press release for more information.
How the project works
The MHRA are responsible for patient recruitment and sample collection. Genomics England will work alongside the MHRA to sequence and analyse genomes from patients and add this genomic data to the National Genomic Research Library, a secure national database of de-identified genomic and health data. In addition, Genomics England’s research environment will enable approved researchers to access the data.
In the video below our Chief Safety Officer explains more about the Yellow Card Biobank.
What's involved for those taking part
People reported potential side effects by filling in a Yellow Card providing contact details and selecting “Yes” to being contacted by the Biobank team
Get invited if they met the study criteria people were invited to join the Biobank study
Read Patient Information and Sign a Consent form. People were asked to read some information about the Yellow Card Biobank and confirm whether they agreed to take part in the study online, or by post if preferred.
Fill in a health questionnaire
Provide a saliva sample using a kit posted to the participant’s home
How we will protect your data
At the Yellow Card Biobank, data security is our highest priority. We use industry-standard tools and techniques to prevent any unauthorised access and regularly undertake security tests. To find out more about your rights, how we protect and use your data please go to our Biobank privacy policy.
Contact us
If you would like more information about the Yellow Card Biobank, please email us and one of our team will be in touch: yellowcardbiobank@mhra.gov.uk
Dr Alison Cave, MHRA Chief Safety Officer, said:
“Evidence shows that almost a third of side effects to medicines could be prevented with the introduction of genetic testing. It is predicted that adverse drug reactions cost the NHS more than £2.2 billion a year in hospital stays alone.
Information from the Yellow Card Biobank will help us to better predict those most at risk of adverse reactions - enabling patients across the UK to receive the safest medicine for them, based on their genetic makeup.”
Professor Matt Brown, Chief Scientific Officer for Genomics England, said:
“We are thrilled to embark on this transformative partnership with the MHRA, as we delve into the genomics of severe adverse drug reactions. Many of these reactions are influenced by underlying genetic risk factors, substantially heightening an individual’s vulnerability. By joining forces with the MHRA, we are poised to gain greater understanding of these genetic influences – discoveries that will be vital if we are to move to harness the power of genomics to proactively protect patients from these harms. Together, we hope that this is the first step towards redefining the future of drug safety.”