In a recent article by Outsourcing-Pharma, Harvard Medical School scientists from Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) claim to have identified genetic differences between people who respond to placebos during trials and those who do not. Only 122 of the 262 participating adults allowed blood samples to be taken for a small scale study. The subjects who responded best to placebo had dual copies of a specific gene encoding catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT). This seems to tie back to an enzyme which is linked to dopamine pathways.
Kathryn Hall, a lead author is quoted saying “To our knowledge, this is the first study to demonstrate genetic modulation of true placebo effects disassociated from changes related to disease natural history and regression to the mean… Identifying biological characteristics of placebo responders and non-responders could be key to managing underlying placebo genic factors to benefit patients by delivering personalized medicine”. Researchers say the genetic findings have wider implications for drug research involving protocol design and personalized medicines. For further insight on this interesting topic, click here.