Separating the beneficial effects of a drug from the adverse side effects

Nicotinic acid is one of the most effective drugs for raising levels of 'good' cholesterol and lowering levels of 'bad' cholesterol and other lipids (fats), thereby reducing the risk of heart attack. However, patients often stop taking the drug due to one specific side effect, flushing of the skin that often includes an intense burning and itching sensation. A way to separate the beneficial effects of nicotinic acid from the flushing response has now been elucidated in mice by Robert Lefkowitz and colleagues, at Duke University Medical Centre, Durham...

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