DOCTORS who pioneered a revolutionary leukaemia drug have been awarded a grant to see which patients would benefit the most.

Experts believe a patient's genetic makeup could influence how well they will respond to the new type of drug.

This week, The Northern Echo exclusively reported how Dr Stephen O'Brien, a consultant haematologist at the Newcastle Royal Victoria Infirmary, has shown that a new drug, Glivec, is far superior to conventional treatment when prescribed as a first-use drug.

The drug, which works by targeting leukaemia cells and leaving surrounding cells unharmed, had its first patient trials in the North-East.

Now, the Newcastle University scientist has announced that his team has been awarded £100,000 by the Leukaemia Research Fund.

"The grant is to investigate which patients would be genetically most suited to the drug," said Dr O'Brien.

"We are now able to look at people's genes on little chips. In future, this might allow us to analyse new patients so we can say whether they are likely to respond well to drugs."

While Dr O'Brien is delighted that Newcastle has played a major role in the latest international Glivec study, he said it was frustrating that haematologists around the UK will still be unable to prescribe the drug to newly-diagnosed patients with chronic myeloid leukaemia.

"If a new patient walked through the door today, we would like to give them Glivec, but they still have to try Interferon first," he added.

As rules stand, the drug can only be prescribed after other drugs have been tried.

But Dr O'Brien said that was likely to change in August, when the National Institute for Clinical Excellence - the body which decides whether new drugs should be made available on the NHS - is expected to amend existing guidelines.

The specialist now has other things on his mind - getting into shape to do this years Great North Run.

"I'm going to run in aid of the Leukaemia Research Fund," he said. "My wife did it last year so I thought I would give it a go. Anyone want to sponsor me?"