HomeNews & PressNew MTHFR Gene Test Extends Holistic Pharmacogenomics Approach to Treating Depression New MTHFR Gene Test Extends Holistic Pharmacogenomics Approach to Treating Depression November 4, 2013News & Press Mason, OH – November 4, 2013 – Assurex Health, a leading personalized medicine company, announced today the release of GeneSight® MTHFR, the latest addition to its pharmacogenomic test panel. GeneSight MTHFR determines the alleles at the C677T polymorphism in the MTHFR gene to predict effects on folic acid conversion. An individual’s genetic inability to convert folic acid into l-methylfolate has been linked to higher incidence of depression. The Assurex Health Clinical Development team analyzed 112 published articles and clinical studies examining the association between C677T polymorphisms and circulating homocysteine and folate levels. Over 90% of studies found a statistically significant positive association between reduced conversion of folic acid and the T allele. Patients with reduced folate levels may benefit from folic acid or folate supplementation. MTHFR will be the fourth GeneSight test, joining other GeneSight tests already available for patients diagnosed with depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, ADHD and chronic pain. Like the other GeneSight tests, GeneSight MTHFR uses a patient’s DNA, collected via a simple cheek swab, and matches it with all relevant treatment information to provide support to clinicians to help get patients on the right regimens faster. “The addition of GeneSight MTHFR to Assurex Health’s suite of neuropsychiatric personalized medicine products will further enable clinicians to personalize and optimize treatment for patients suffering from mental illness,” according to Bryan M. Dechairo, Ph.D., Senior Vice President, Medical Affairs & Clinical Development at Assurex Health. “Prescribing a genetically informed treatment regimen helps the clinician better manage the patient’s disease and improve patient outcomes.” “We are committed to providing clinicians and their patients with clinically relevant pharmacogenomic products, and we will continually update our treatment support products as new clinical data become available,” said Assurex Health President, Virginia C. Drosos. “With the addition of GeneSight MTHFR, doctors, nurse practitioners and other clinicians will have another tool for getting patients back on the road to wellness faster.” About Assurex Health Assurex Health is a personalized medicine company that specializes in pharmacogenomics and is dedicated to helping physicians determine the right medication for individual patients suffering from neuropsychiatric and other disorders. The company was founded to commercialize industry leading personalized medicine technology for neuropsychiatric disorders. Assurex Health has licensed technology from Mayo Clinic and Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center. For more information about Assurex Health, please visit www.assurexhealth.com. About GeneSight GeneSight is a laboratory developed pharmacogenomic test that uses cutting edge technology to measure and analyze clinically important genomic variants in the treatment of psychiatric disorders. The results of the GeneSight report can help a clinician understand the way a patient’s unique genomic makeup may affect certain psychiatric drugs. The analysis is based on pharmacogenomics, the study of genomic factors that influence an individual’s response to drug treatments, manufacturers’ FDA approved drug labels, peer reviewed scientific and clinical publications, and proven drug pharmacology. Quick turnaround time, combined with a customized report of the patient’s genomic makeup, clinical experience, and other factors can provide information to help a physician make personalized drug treatment choices for each patient. Registered trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Patient BIPOC (formerly Minority) Mental Health Month: Breaking Stigma, Building Trust Despite many efforts to stem it, stigma around mental health still exists, particularly in BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) communities. July mark... Read more Patient Long-Term Effects of Antidepressants: What Research Shows Anyone who’s ever taken antidepressants for an extended period of time has probably wondered whether they’ll experience long-term effects: After years ... Read more Patient Have a Mindful Summer: Take a Breather with These Simple Exercises Summer is a great time to kick back and relax—if you can find the time. Managing the hustle and bustle of kids off school, planning for fun summer activities an... Read more Patient Barriers at Every Turn: How Systemic and Social Factors Block Men from Mental Health Care Taking the important step of seeking care for mental health isn’t always an easy decision. Uncertainty about the need for care, social stigmas associated wi... Read more Healthcare Provider Overcoming Side Effect Concerns: Leveraging Pharmacogenomic Insights to Inform Depression and Anxiety Medication Selection Whitnee Brown, a lifelong resident now practicing in Birmingham, Alabama has nearly an entire alphabet following her name, abbreviations for degrees and certifi... Read more Patient Concerns about Mental Health Medication Side Effects Remain a Barrier to Getting Help for Those Diagnosed with Depression and Anxiety Lisa Roberts has raised a family, reached an impressively high level in her career, and was an anchor for her mother and other family members. When, within ... 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Patient BIPOC (formerly Minority) Mental Health Month: Breaking Stigma, Building Trust Despite many efforts to stem it, stigma around mental health still exists, particularly in BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) communities. July mark... Read more
Patient Long-Term Effects of Antidepressants: What Research Shows Anyone who’s ever taken antidepressants for an extended period of time has probably wondered whether they’ll experience long-term effects: After years ... Read more
Patient Have a Mindful Summer: Take a Breather with These Simple Exercises Summer is a great time to kick back and relax—if you can find the time. Managing the hustle and bustle of kids off school, planning for fun summer activities an... Read more
Patient Barriers at Every Turn: How Systemic and Social Factors Block Men from Mental Health Care Taking the important step of seeking care for mental health isn’t always an easy decision. Uncertainty about the need for care, social stigmas associated wi... Read more
Healthcare Provider Overcoming Side Effect Concerns: Leveraging Pharmacogenomic Insights to Inform Depression and Anxiety Medication Selection Whitnee Brown, a lifelong resident now practicing in Birmingham, Alabama has nearly an entire alphabet following her name, abbreviations for degrees and certifi... Read more
Patient Concerns about Mental Health Medication Side Effects Remain a Barrier to Getting Help for Those Diagnosed with Depression and Anxiety Lisa Roberts has raised a family, reached an impressively high level in her career, and was an anchor for her mother and other family members. When, within ... Read more
Patient Common Antidepressant Side Effects Taking an antidepressant can be an effective way to help treat a mental health condition like depression or anxiety. However, these medications can also cre... Read more
Patient MTHFR Mutations: Clinical Implications and Management Strategies MTHFR mutations—changes in the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene—have gained increased attention in the medical community due to their potent... Read more
Patient Can an App Help Me Manage My Anxiety? Health and wellness smartphone apps have become so common that if you can name a health goal, desire or condition, you can probably find an app for it. N... Read more
Patient Black Trailblazers of Psychiatry and Mental Health: A Legacy of Healing and Advocacy As we celebrate Black History Month, we want to recognize a few individuals who have made extraordinary contributions to the field of psychiatry and mental heal... Read more