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Nature Medicine 7, 285 - 287 (2001)
doi:10.1038/85417

CYP3A genetics in drug metabolism

Michel Eichelbaum1 & Oliver Burk2

  1. Dr. Margarete Fischer-Bosch-Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Stuttgart, Germany
  2. Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Eberhard-Karls-University, Tübingen, Germany
    e-mail: michel.eichelbaum@ikp-stuttgart.de


Most drugs are metabolized by CYP3A enzymes, and variations in expression levels of these enzymes are believed to determine whether patients will have a positive or adverse drug response. Little is known about the mechanisms that underlie inter-individual differences in CYP3A expression, but the mapping of human genome sequence variations will facilitate the search for answers.


All living organisms, including humans, are continuously exposed to approximately 10,000 chemicals present in food, drinks and the environment. Many naturally occurring compounds are toxic, such as mold aflatoxins, which are among the most potent carcinogens1.

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