Researchers from the Mayo Clinic and their collaborators have released a new study identifying genetic markers that pinpoint which people may benefit most from administration of the drug acamprosate as treatment for alcoholism.

While acamprosate is not a new AUD treatment, past studies have shown that the drug is only effective for a certain percentage of patients.

The study, published in Translational Psychiatry (October 7, 2014), isolates the genetic variant that may help determine which patients will respond to acamprosate, making them likely candidates for successful treatment.

“This association finding is a first step towards development of a pharmacogenetic test allowing physicians to choose appropriate treatment for specific subgroups of alcohol-dependent patients,” says Victor Karpyak, M.D., Ph.D., lead author of the article, in a news release. “We believe that individualized treatment selection will eliminate the need for trial-and-error approaches and improve treatment efficacy in patients with alcohol-use disorders.”