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AutoGenomics CYP 2C19 Test Used in Study to Personalize Clopidogrel (Plavix) Dosing in Patients

Posted on: Thursday, 22 January 2009, 06:00 CST

CARLSBAD, Calif., Jan. 22 /PRNewswire/ -- AutoGenomics, a leader in providing automated molecular testing solutions announced today that its CYP450 2C19 assay was used in a study to demonstrate the value of genetic variants in dosing of the antiplatelet agent, Plavix.

Plavix, commonly known as Clopidogrel, is an anti-platelet agent used in the treatment for coronary artery disease, peripheral vascular disease and cerebrovascular disease. To realize the antiplatelet effect, Clopidogrel requires biotransformation to an active metabolite by cytochrome P-450 enzymes.

"Personalizing Clopidogrel dosing using pharmacogenetics may be an effective method of rationalizing treatment. In a recent study we used the AutoGenomics 2C19 test to screen for polymorphisms associated with a reduced response to the drug" said Dr. Mark Webster, Director of Cardiac Catheterization at the Auckland City Hospital. His co-investigator Dr. Patrick Gladding said that "other studies have shown that patients treated with Clopidogrel with a reduced function CYP C219 genetic variant had lower levels of the active metabolite resulting in a reduced antiplatelet response to the drug and a three-fold risk of stent thrombosis."

"We are pleased that Dr. Webster and Dr. Gladding have taken a pioneering role in assessing the role of genetic variants in Clopidogrel dosing to ensure patient safety. The AutoGenomics platform enables the rapid testing of such CYP 450 tests including CYP 2C9, CYP 3A4 & CYP 3A5 that have been quoted in recent publications as factors that could be of interest in drug dosing" said Ramanath Vairavan, Senior Vice President at AutoGenomics. He further said "that recent studies published in the New England Journal of Medicine indicated that about 30% of the patients had at least one CYP 2C19 reduced function genetic variant". With such high incidence of these reduced functional alleles it is gratifying to note the active role that FDA is taking to re-label these drugs and help realize the promise of personalized medicine to ensure drug efficacy and patient safety".

About AutoGenomics

AutoGenomics Inc., a privately held company based in Carlsbad, CA, has developed the first automated, microarray based multiplexing diagnostic platform that can be used to assess disease signatures with novel genomic and proteomic markers in the area of genetic disorders, infectious disease, cancer and pharmacogenetics. With the discovery of genes and their link to various disease states the platform has the versatility to revolutionize the way patients are diagnosed, monitored and managed leading to the era of personalized medicine. www.autogenomics.com

SOURCE AutoGenomics Inc.

Source: PR Newswire

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