Influence of CYP2C9 and CYP2C19 genetic polymorphisms on pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of gliclazide in healthy Chinese Han volunteers

Background and objective: CYP2C9 is the major contributor to gliclazide metabolic clearance in vitro, while the pharmacokinetics of gliclazide modified release are affected mainly by CYP2C19 genetic polymorphisms in vivo. This study aims to investigate the influence of CYP2C9 and CYP2C19 genetic polymorphisms on the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of gliclazide in healthy Chinese Han volunteers. Methods: Eighteen healthy Han subjects with various combinations of CYP2C9 and CYP2C19 genotypes received 80 mg gliclazide. Plasma gliclazide concentrations were measured by a liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry method for 84 h and plasma glucose and insulin levels were measured up to 15 h post‐dose. Results and discussion: There was no difference in either pharmacokinetic and or pharmacodynamic parameters of gliclazide when group A (CYP2C9*1/*1, CYP2C19 extensive metabolizers) was compared with group B (CYP2C9*1/*3, CYP2C19 *1/*1). When group C (CYP2C9*1/*1 and CYP2C19 poor metabolizers) was compared with group A, the AUC_0–∞ and C_max in group C were significantly higher [83·94 ± 40·41 vs. 16·39 ± 5·10 μg·h/mL (P = 0·000) and 1·50 ± 0·85 vs. 0·45 ± 0·18 μg/mL (P = 0·000)], and the oral clearance was significantly lower [1·17 ± 0·63 vs. 5·38 ± 1·86 L/h (P = 0·000)]. The half‐life of gliclazide was also significantly prolonged in group C subjects when compared with that of group A (33·47 ± 12·39 vs. 19·34 ± 10·45 h), but the difference was not significant (P = 0·052). The increase in serum glucose level at 11 h after dosing (ΔC_glu11) in group C was significantly higher than that of group A (?1·08 ± 0·42 vs. 0·22 ± 1·01 mmol/L, P = 0·022). The corresponding insulin levels showed no difference between the two groups. Conclusion: CYP2C9*3 was not associated with any change in the disposition of gliclazide. CYP2C19 polymorphisms appear to exert the dominant influence on the pharmacokinetics of gliclazide in healthy Chinese Han subjects, and may also affect the observed pharmacodynamics of the drug as a result.     

CYP2C9, but not CYP2C19, polymorphisms affect the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of glyburide in Chinese subjects

BACKGROUND: Although cytochrome P450 (CYP) 2C9 was thought to be the main pathway for glyburide (INN, glibenclamide) metabolism in vivo, studies in vitro indicated that CYP2C19 had a more dominant effect. This study investigated the relative influence of CYP2C9 and CYP2C19 genotypes on the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of glyburide in Chinese subjects. METHODS: Three groups of healthy male Chinese subjects (n=6 per group) were enrolled, as follows: group I, CYP2C9*1/*1 and CYP2C19 extensive metabolizers (EMs); group II, CYP2C9*1/*1 and CYP2C19 poor metabolizers (PMs); and group III, CYP2C9*1/*3 and CYP2C19 EMs. Subjects received single oral doses of 5 mg glyburide. Multiple blood samples were collected, and the plasma glyburide concentrations were determined by an HPLC method. The plasma glucose and insulin concentrations were also measured up to 2 hours after dosing. RESULTS: No significant differences in glyburide pharmacokinetics were observed between CYP2C19 EM and PM subjects who had the CYP2C9*1/*1 genotype (group I versus group II). Their respective values for area under the plasma concentration-time curve from time 0 to infinity (AUC0-infinity) and elimination half-life (t1/2) were 0.46+/-0.13 microg.h/mL versus 0.57+/- 0.11 microg.h/mL (P=.569) and 2.09+/-0.22 hours versus 2.24+/- 0.27 hours (P=.721). However, significant increases in AUC(0-infinity) (125% and 82%; P=.008 and .024, respectively) and t1/2 (71% and 60%; P=.003 and .007, respectively) were observed when CYP2C9*1/*3 subjects (group III) were compared with CYP2C9*1/*1 subjects in group I or II. Blood glucose reductions at 2 hours after dosing were 41.8%, 23.9%, and 27.7% in groups I, II, and III, respectively (P=.029), and hypoglycemia developed in 3 of 6 CYP2C9*1/*3 carriers and 2 of 12 CYP2C9*1/*1 carriers. CONCLUSION: CYP2C9, but not CYP2C19, polymorphism appears to exert a dominant influence on glyburide pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics in vivo. Further studies in diabetic patients with long-term dosing are warranted to confirm these findings.     

Impact of CYP2C9 amino acid polymorphisms on glyburide kinetics and on the insulin and glucose response in healthy volunteers

BACKGROUND: Glyburide (INN, glibenclamide) is a second-generation sulfonylurea antidiabetic agent with high potency. We hypothesized that glyburide may be a substrate of cytochrome P450 2C9 (CYP2C9), an enzyme that has two low-activity amino acid variants-Arg144Cys (CYP2C9*2) and Ile359Leu (CYP2C9*3). We explored the impact of these polymorphisms on glyburide pharmacokinetics and the effects on insulin and glucose concentrations. METHODS: Twenty-one healthy volunteers who represented all possible combinations of the two variant alleles were studied (genotypes CYP2C9*1/*1, *1/*2, *2/*2, *1/*3, *2/*3, and *3/*3 ). They received a single oral dose of 3.5 mg glyburide followed by 75 g glucose at 1, 4.5, and 8 hours after administration of glyburide. Glyburide was quantified in plasma by reversed-phase HPLC. Venous blood concentrations of glyburide, insulin, and glucose were analyzed with a population pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic model by use of NONMEM statistical software. RESULTS: Pharmacokinetics of glyburide depended significantly on CYP2C9 genotypes. In homozygous carriers of the genotype *3/*3, total oral clearance was less than half of that of the wild-type genotype *1/*1 (P <.001). Correspondingly, insulin secretion measured within 12 hours after glyburide ingestion was higher in carriers of the genotype *3/*3 compared with the other genotypes (P =.028), whereas the differences in glucose concentrations were not significant. CONCLUSIONS: Carriers of the CYP2C9 variant *3 had decreased oral clearances of glyburide. This confirms that glyburide is metabolized by CYP2C9. Corresponding differences in insulin plasma levels indicated that dose adjustment based on CYP2C9 genotype may improve antidiabetic treatment.     

Genetic polymorphisms of drug-metabolizing enzymes CYP2D6, CYP2C9, CYP2C19 and CYP3A5 in the Greek population

The aim of the present study was to determine the prevalence of the most common allelic variants of the polymorphic cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes CYP2D6, CYP2C9, CYP2C19 and CYP3A5 and to predict the genotype frequency for each polymorphism in the Greek population. DNA isolated from peripheral blood samples derived from 283 non-related Greek ethnic subjects was used to determine the frequency of CYP2D6*3, CYP2D6*4, CYP2C9*2, CYP2C9*3 and CYP3A5*3 allelic variants by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-restriction fragment length polymorphism method, CYP2C19*2 and CYP2C19*3 with allelic specific amplification (PCR-ASA), and CYP2D6*2 (gene duplications) by long PCR analysis. The allelic frequencies (out of a total of 566 alleles) for CYP2D6*3 and CYP2D6*4, were 2.3% and 17.8%, respectively, while gene duplications (CYP2D6*2) were found in 7.4% of the subjects tested. For CYP2C9*2 and CYP2C9*3 polymorphisms the allelic frequencies were 12.9% and 8.13% respectively. For CYP2C19, the *2 polymorphism was present at an allelic frequency of 13.1%, while no subjects were found carrying the CYP2C19*3 allele. Finally, the CYP3A5*3 allele was abundantly present in the Greek population with an allelic frequency of 94.4%. Overall our results show that the frequencies of the common defective allelic variants of CYP2C9, CYP2C19 and CYP3A5 in Greek subjects are similar to those reported for several other Caucasian populations. Finally, a high prevalence of CYP2D6 gene duplication among Greeks was found, a finding that strengthens the idea that a South/North gradient exists in the occurrence of CYP2D6 ultrarapid metabolizers in European populations.     

Maribavir pharmacokinetics and the effects of multiple-dose maribavir on cytochrome P450 (CYP) 1A2, CYP 2C9, CYP 2C19, CYP 2D6, CYP 3A, N-acetyltransferase-2, and xanthine oxidase activities in healthy adults

Maribavir (1263W94, VP-41263) is an oral anticytomegalovirus agent under clinical development. The pharmacokinetics and safety of maribavir and the effects of maribavir on the activities of cytochrome P450 (CYP) 1A2, CYP 2C9, CYP 2C19, CYP 2D6, CYP 3A, N-acetyltransferase-2 (NAT-2), and xanthine oxidase (XO) were evaluated in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Twenty healthy subjects received a five-drug phenotyping cocktail of caffeine (CYP 1A2, NAT-2, XO), warfarin plus vitamin K (CYP 2C9), omeprazole (CYP 2C19), dextromethorphan (CYP 2D6), and midazolam (CYP 3A) 4 days before and after 7 days of treatment with maribavir at 400 mg twice daily (16 subjects) or placebo (4 subjects) for 10 days. Maribavir did not affect the CYP 1A2, CYP 2C9, CYP 3A, NAT-2, or XO activities. Bioequivalence was not demonstrated for CYP 2C19 and CYP 2D6, suggesting a decrease or inhibition of CYP 2C19 and CYP 2D6 activities. The pharmacokinetics of maribavir following a single dose and after 10 days of treatment were similar, with minimal accumulation at steady state. Maribavir was safe and well tolerated. Taste disturbance was the most frequently reported adverse event. These results will further guide evaluation of the drug interaction potential and clinical development of maribavir.     

Induction of CYP2C19 and CYP3A activity following repeated administration of efavirenz in healthy volunteers

Drug-drug interactions involving efavirenz are of major concern in clinical practice. We evaluated the effects of multiple doses of efavirenz on omeprazole 5-hydroxylation (CYP2C19) and sulfoxidation (CYP3A). Healthy volunteers (n = 57) were administered a single 20 mg oral dose of racemic omeprazole either with a single 600 mg oral dose of efavirenz or after 17 days of administration of 600 mg/day of efavirenz. The concentrations of racemic omeprazole, 5-hydroxyomeoprazole (and their enantiomers), and omeprazole sulfone in plasma were measured using a chiral liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method. Relative to single-dose treatment, multiple doses of efavirenz significantly decreased (P < 0.0001) the area under the plasma concentration-time curve from 0 to infinity (AUC(0-∞)) of racemic-, R- and S-omeprazole (2.01- to 2.15-fold) and the corresponding AUC(0-∞) metabolic ratio (MR) for 5-hydroxyomeprazole (1.36- to 1.44-fold) as well as the MR for omeprazole sulfone (～2.0) (P < 0.0001). The significant reduction in the AUC of 5-hydroxyomeprazole after repeated efavirenz dosing suggests induction of sequential metabolism and mixed inductive/inhibitory effects of efavirenz on CYP2C19. In conclusion, efavirenz enhances omeprazole metabolism in a nonstereoselective manner through induction of CYP3A and CYP2C19 activity.     

Influence of CYP2D6*10 on the pharmacokinetics of metoprolol in healthy Korean volunteers

Background and objective: Genetic polymorphism of CYP2D6 leads to differences in pharmacokinetics of CYP2D6 substrates. The CYP2D6*10 allele is clinically important in Koreans because of its high frequency in Asians. We investigated whether the pharmacokinetics of metoprolol was altered by the presence of the CYP2D6*10 allele in Korean subjects. Methods: One hundred and seven volunteers were recruited and grouped as CYP2D6*1/*1, CYP2D6*1/*10 and CYP2D6*10/*10 according to their genotypes. Metoprolol tartrate 100 mg (Betaloc^®) was administered orally once to each subject in these three groups (n = 6, 7 and 5, respectively). The pharmacokinetic parameters of metoprolol and its metabolite, α‐hydroxymetoprolol, and the metabolic ratio for the three groups were estimated and compared. Results and discussion: The area under the plasma concentration–time curve (AUC_0→∞), the maximum plasma concentration (C_max) and the elimination half‐life (T_1/2) of metoprolol and α‐hydroxymetoprolol for the CYP2D6*10/*10 group were all significantly different from those of the CYP2D6*1/*1 group (P < 0·05). The AUC_0→∞s of metoprolol were 443·7 ± 168·1, 995·6 ± 321·4 and 2545·3 ± 632·0 ng·h/mL, and the AUC_0→∞s of α‐hydroxymetoprolol were 1232·0 ± 311·2, 1344·0 ± 288·1 and 877·4 ± 103·4 ng·h/mL for groups CYP2D6*1/*1, *1/*10 and *10/*10, respectively. The corresponding T_1/2 values of metoprolol were 2·7 ± 0·5, 3·2 ± 1·3 and 5·0 ± 1·1 h, while those of α‐hydroxymetoprolol were 5·4±1·5, 6·0 ± 1·4 and 10·5 ± 4·2 h, respectively. The metabolic ratios of the three groups were significantly different (P < 0·05). Conclusion: The CYP2D6*10 allele altered the pharmacokinetics of metoprolol in Korean subjects and is likely to affect other drugs metabolized by the CYP2D6 enzyme, similarly.     

Influence of CYP2C9 genotypes on the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of piroxicam

OBJECTIVE: Our objective was to evaluate the influence of cytochrome P450 (CYP) 2C9 polymorphisms on the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug piroxicam. METHODS: Thirty-five healthy subjects with CYP2C9 genotypes *1/*1 (n=17), *1/*2 (n=9), and *1/*3 (n=9) received a single oral dose of piroxicam (20 mg). Blood samples were collected at various time points up to 240 hours for measurements of the concentrations of piroxicam and thromboxane B2 (TXB2). RESULTS: Piroxicam's area under the plasma concentration-time curve from time 0 to infinity and oral clearance corrected for body weight were 154+/-37 microg.mL-1.h and 2.0+/-0.5 mL.h-1.kg-1, respectively, in CYP2C9*1/*1 individuals, as compared with 256+/-97 mL.h-1 (P=.002) and 1.3+/- 0.4 mL.h-1.kg-1 (P=.002), respectively, in CYP2C9*1/*2 individuals and 259+/- 95 mL.h-1 (P=.002) and 1.3+/- 0.4 mL.h-1.kg-1 (P=.002), respectively, in CYP2C9*1/*3 individuals. There were no significant differences between CYP2C9*1/*2 and CYP2C 9*1/*3 individuals in these pharmacokinetic parameters (P=.95 for area under the plasma concentration-time curve from time 0 to infinity and P=.94 for oral clearance corrected for body weight). The formation of TXB2, reflecting cyclooxygenase type 1 activity, showed significant differences in the area above the effect-time curves (expressed as percent of baseline TXB2.h) between CYP2C9*1/*1 (10,190 +/- 2632) and either CYP2C9*1/*2 (19,255+/-1,291 [P=.00003]) or CYP2C9*1/*3 (18,241+/- 2397 [P=.00003]). The minimum serum TXB2 concentration, however, did not differ among the different genotypes (P=.32, ANOVA). CONCLUSION: Piroxicam's oral clearance was impaired and its inhibitory effect on cyclooxygenase 1 activity was increased in CYP2C9*1/*2 or CYP2C9*1/*3 individuals, as compared with CYP2C 9*1 homozygous individuals.     

Pharmacogenetics of acenocoumarol: CYP2C9, CYP2C19, CYP1A2, CYP3A4, CYP3A5 and ABCB1 gene polymorphisms and dose requirements

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Acenocoumarol (AC) is a coumarin derivative, vitamin K antagonist anticoagulant drug. It has a narrow therapeutic index and shows large pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic interindividual variability. Our objective was to investigate the association between AC dose requirements to achieve a target level of anticoagulation and genetic polymorphisms of genes possibly associated with its metabolism (CYP1A2, CYP2C9, CYP2C19, CYP3A4, CYP3A5) and transport (ABCB1). METHODS: Ninety-six Bulgarian patients treated orally with AC for at least 3 months were included. They were separated into three groups according to their AC dose requirement, i.e. low, medium and high. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: CYP2C9*1/*3 (associated with an intermediate CYP2C9 activity), CYP2C9*2/*2, and CYP2C9*2/*3 genotypes (associated with a low CYP2C9 activity) were more prevalent in the group with low dose requirement of AC compared with the other two groups (P = 0.003). The frequency of CYP2C9*1/*1 genotype, which is associated with an extensive CYP2C9 activity, was higher in the group of patients with high dose requirements (79%), compared with the groups of the medium and low dose requirements (67% and 21% respectively). In addition, the ABCB1 2677GG/3435CC haplotype was associated with use of lower AC dose, whereas the 2677TT/3435TT and 2677GT/3435TT haplotypes were associated with use of higher AC dose (P = 0.03). The distribution of polymorphisms of other genes did not show significant differences between the three groups. CONCLUSION: In vivo, cytochromes P450 isoforms other than CYP2C9 [corrected] were not significantly associated with dose requirement of AC. In our Bulgarian patients, the presence of CYP2C9*2 or/and CYP2C9*3 alleles, as well as the ABCB1 2677GG/3435CC haplotype were associated with low dose requirement of AC.     

Influence of CYP2C9 and CYP2C19 genetic polymorphisms on warfarin maintenance dose and metabolic clearance

OBJECTIVE: Our objective was to determine the influence of cytochrome P450 (CYP) 2C9 and CYP2C19 genetic polymorphisms on warfarin dose requirement and metabolic clearance. METHODS: The study population consisted of 93 Italian outpatients receiving long-term warfarin anticoagulant therapy (international normalized ratio values, 2-3), divided into 3 dose groups: low (<26.25 mg/wk; n = 37), medium (26.25-43.75 mg/wk; n = 32), and high (>43.75 mg/wk; n = 24). Steady-state unbound plasma concentrations of S- and R-warfarin were measured by HPLC and equilibrium dialysis, and corresponding unbound oral clearance (CL(free)) values were calculated. Allelic variants of CYP2C9 (CYP2C9(*)2 and CYP2C9(*)3) and CYP2C19 (CYP2C19(*)2) were identified by polymerase chain reaction, followed by restriction enzyme analysis. RESULTS: Fifty-four patients carried no CYP2C9 mutated alleles ((*)1/(*)1), 31 carried one ((*)1/(*)2, n = 15; and (*)1/(*)3, n = 16), and 8 carried two ((*)2/(*)2, n = 2; (*)3/(*)3, n = 2; and (*)2/(*)3, n = 4). Two subjects were homozygous and 19 were heterozygous for the CYP2C19(*)2 allele variant. The frequencies of CYP2C9 mutated alleles were 72% in the low-dose group, 36% in the medium-dose group, and 4% in the high-dose group; the corresponding mean S-warfarin CL(free) values were 307.5 mL/min, 480.3 mL/min, and 881.3 mL/min. The mean S-warfarin CL(free) values varied significantly among the CYP2C9 genotype groups (P <.0001), although most patients (72%) with no mutated alleles showed S-warfarin CL(free) values in the same range as those carrying mutated alleles (58-777 mL/min). No relationship was found between S-warfarin CL(free) and CYP2C19 genotype or between R-warfarin CL(free) and either CYP2C9 or CYP2C19 genotype. CONCLUSION: CYP2C9 genetic polymorphisms markedly influence warfarin dose requirements and metabolic clearance of the S-warfarin enantiomer, although nongenetic factors may also contribute to their large interindividual variability.     

CYP3A5和多重耐药基因1多态性对肾移植患者他克莫司药代动力学参数的影响

目的探讨细胞色素P450,家族3,亚家族A,多肽5(CYP3A5)基因和多重耐药基因1(MDR1)C3435T多态性对肾移植患者他克莫司药代动力学参数的影响,在基因水平为临床合理用药提供参考。方法采用聚合酶链反应(PCR)和限制酶切片长多态性(RFIP)方法对63例肾移植术后患者进行CYP3A5和MDR1基因分型。移植手术1个月后进行血药浓度测定和药代动力学参数计算。结果携带CYP3A5*1基因型肾移植患者的剂量校正曲线下面积(AUC_(0-t))明显低于CYP3A5*3*3型患者,在随后对上述2组不同CYP3A5基因分型的患者进行MDR1的C3435T基因多态性分型研究表明,MDR1 C3435T基因多态性对他可莫司的药代动力学参数无明显影响。结论 CYP3A5基因多态性与他可莫司药代动力学参数相关,携带CYP3A5*1基因型肾移植患者比CYP3A5*3*3型患者需要较高的剂量才能达到目的浓度;而在影响他可莫司药代动力学参数的因素中MDR1 C3435T基因多态性不是重要因素。药代动力学参数的测定有利于器官移植患者剂量选择及个体化用药治疗。     

Evaluation of the relationship between polymorphisms in CYP2C19 and the single‐dose pharmacokinetics of omeprazole in healthy Chinese volunteers: A multicenter study

The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between polymorphisms in CYP2C19 and the single‐dose pharmacokinetics (PKs) of omeprazole in healthy Chinese volunteers. A 20 mg single dose of omeprazole (Losec) enteric‐coated capsules or tablets was orally administered to 656 healthy subjects from eight subcenters. The polymorphic alleles of CYP2C19*2, *3, and *17 were determined by Sanger sequencing and Agena mass array. Plasma concentrations of omeprazole were determined by high‐performance liquid‐chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. PK parameters of area under the concentration versus time curve (AUC)_0‐t, AUC from zero to infinity (AUC_0‐∞), maximum plasma concentration (C_max), and terminal half‐life (t_1/2) were significantly influenced by CYP2C19 phenotype (all p < 0.001) and diplotype (all p < 0.001), and the same results were obtained in the subgroup analysis of the effects of diet and dosage form. The polymorphisms of CYP2C19*2(rs4244285; all PK parameters p < 0.001) and *3(rs4986893; p _Cmax = 0.020, and the p values of other PK parameters were less than 0.001) were significantly associated with the PKs of omeprazole. For CYP2C19*17 (rs12248560), only t_1/2 showed a significant correlation (p = 0.032), whereas other PK parameters did not. The present study demonstrated that the Pks of omeprazole is greatly influenced by CYP2C19.     

Frequency of CYP2C9 variant alleles, including CYP2C9*13 in a Korean population and effect on glimepiride pharmacokinetics

What is known and Objective: Cytochrome P450 (CYP) 2C9 is a clinically important enzyme involved in the metabolism of many drugs commonly used in humans. Of several allelic variants known to affect the catalytic activity of the CYP2C9 enzyme, the frequencies of the CYP2C9*3 and CYP2C9*13 alleles in the Korean population have been reported as 1·1% and 0·6%, respectively. Our objective was to re‐evaluate the frequencies of CYP2C9 allelic variants in the Korean population, including the CYP2C9*13 allele by pyrosequencing, and to investigate the pharmacokinetics of glimepiride in relation to CYP2C9 genotypes, including CYP2C9*3/*3. Methods: 295 subjects were genotyped for CYP2C9*2 and CYP2C9*3 using the TaqMan procedure, and for CYP2C9*13 using pyrosequencing. These data were combined with our previously reported data to assess the CYP2C9 allele and genotype frequencies in 869 Korean subjects. Data from 24 of the 295 genotyped subjects (22 CYP2C9*1/*1 homozygotes, one CYP2C9*1/*3 heterozygote and one CYP2C9*3/*3 homozygote) who had participated in a bioequivalence study were analysed retrospectively to examine the effects of CYP2C9 genotype on glimepiride pharmacokinetics. Results: The frequencies of the CYP2C9*1/*3, *3/*3, and *1/*13 genotypes in the study population (n = 295) were 0·081 (n = 24), 0·010 (n = 3) and 0·003 (n = 1), respectively. In the 869 subjects from the combined studies, allele frequencies for CYP2C9*3 and CYP2C9*13 were 0·025 (95% CI: 0·018, 0·033) and 0·002 (95% CI: 0·000, 0·010), respectively. Relative to CYP2C9*1 homozygotes, the one CYP2C9*3 homozygous subject was found to have a higher AUC_0–∞ value (490% of the reference value) and a lower oral clearance rate (18% of the reference). What is new and Conclusion: This study is the first examination of CYP2C9*3 homozygotes in the Korean population. Our data on the one subject with this genotype suggest that CYP2C9*3/*3 momozygotes have lower clearance of glimepiride and are exposed to higher levels of the drug than wild‐type homozygotes. Although we identified a subject with the CYP2C9*13 allele using a new pyrosequencing assay, we were unfortunately unable to investigate its effects on glimepiride pharmacokinetics.