Celera Corporation (NASDAQ:CRA) today announced the publication of data
reporting that elderly (over age 70) carriers of the KIF6 gene
variant with prior vascular disease received significant benefit from
pravastatin (Pravachol®) therapy. Previous research has shown that a
variant of the KIF6 gene, a member of the molecular motor protein
kinesin family, is associated with up to a 55% increased risk of primary
and recurrent coronary heart disease (CHD) events in the placebo arms of
the clinical trials, and that this increased risk is virtually
eliminated with statin therapy. This paper has been published ahead of
print in the European Journal of Cardiovascular Prevention and
Rehabilitation, and is currently available on the publication’s
website at: http://journals.lww.com/ejcpr/Abstract/publishahead/KIF6_Trp719Arg_polymorphism_and_the_effect_of.99827.aspx
“We’re pleased to have replicated our findings for KIF6 in this
important segment of the population as it provides additional
information to help physicians identify those elderly patients with
prior vascular disease in whom statins work particularly well”
The effect of pravastatin versus placebo on coronary events according to KIF6
carrier status was investigated among 5,752 patients of the PROspective
Study of Pravastatin in the Elderly at Risk (PROSPER) study. A key
finding of the study was that in 2,542 subjects with prior vascular
disease, pravastatin therapy significantly reduced coronary events in KIF6
carriers but not in noncarriers: absolute risk reduction was 6.3% in
carriers versus 1.2% in noncarriers. The study showed that the number
needed to treat (NNT) with pravastatin to prevent one CHD event was 16
in KIF6 carriers and 83 in noncarriers. The original reports of
the PROSPER study indicated that only the elderly with prior vascular
disease received substantial and significant reduction of events from
pravastatin therapy. The differential reduction of CHD events between KIF6
carriers and noncarriers in PROSPER patients with prior vascular disease
was observed despite the same on-therapy lipid levels observed in
carriers and noncarriers.
“We’re pleased to have replicated our findings for KIF6 in this
important segment of the population as it provides additional
information to help physicians identify those elderly patients with
prior vascular disease in whom statins work particularly well,” said
Kathy Ordoñez, Chief Executive Officer of Celera.
Celera is pursuing regulatory registration for a diagnostic product
based on research findings pertaining to KIF6.
New study challenges the traditional view of gene switches