New Software Helps Physicians Prescribe, Based on DNA Testing: Makes Benefits of DNA Testing More Accessible to Physicians and Improves Drug Safety and Efficacy
Posted on: Friday, 29 April 2005, 09:00 CDT
SEATTLE and LEXINGTON, Mass., April 29 /PRNewswire/ -- The incorporation of DNA testing into the routine prescription of medicines, the practice of clinical pharmacogenetics, is estimated by many scientists to have the potential to reduce the incidence of adverse drug reactions (ADR) by 20-50%. ADRs are reported to cause more than 100,000 deaths per year in the U.S.
GeneMedRx is the DNA ready version of a software tool used by physicians since 1997 to identify potential drug interactions based on individual patient prescription, over-the-counter, and herbal medicine regimens. Identifying drug interactions is essential to preventing adverse drug reactions. The GeneMedRx database contains entries for 2000 medicines, foods and environmental exposures.
GeneMedRx works both with and without DNA testing results. For example John needs to add an antidepressant to his other medications. His doctor checks with GeneMedRx and learns there are no significant interactions. John starts on the antidepressant, but has adverse side effects. Consulting GeneMedRx again his doctor notes that a DNA test will be useful. DNA testing shows that John is a poor metabolizer of the antidepressant he's taking. John is given a new antidepressant that he can metabolize and does fine.
"Providing actionable information to physicians who want to use DNA testing results to improve the safety and efficacy of their prescribing is the major barrier to bringing the benefits of pharmacogenetics to patients," stated Howard Coleman, Genelex CEO.
Robert Patterson, Mental Health Connections founder, added that, "our many physician subscribers tell us that using our software markedly improves the safety and efficacy of their prescribing practices. By incorporating DNA testing into the program we're preparing physicians for an expected dramatic increase in pharmacogenetic testing."
Mental Health Connections is a Lexington Massachusetts based developer of medical management software. Their primary product is designed to identify drug interactions based on the mainstream of drug metabolism research.
Genelex Corporation is a DNA testing laboratory providing the benefits of pharmacogenetic drug reaction testing to patients and their physicians in order to reduce the high levels of morbidity and mortality that result from adverse drug reactions.
Genelex Corporation
CONTACT: Howard Coleman of Genelex Corporation, +1-425-825-2870, orHCColeman@genelex.com; or Robert Patterson of Mental Health Connections,Lexington, MA, +1-617-510-1318
Web site: http://www.genelex.com/
Source: PRNewswire
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