HomeNews & PressExtensive Scientific Data Supports the Clinical Validity of Pharmacogenomic Testing for Predicting Patient Response to Psychiatric Medications Extensive Scientific Data Supports the Clinical Validity of Pharmacogenomic Testing for Predicting Patient Response to Psychiatric Medications October 28, 2013News & Press Mason, OH – October 28, 2013 – Assurex Health, a leading personalized medicine company, announced today that the International Review of Psychiatry published an extensive review that validates the clinical use of pharmacogenomic testing to help predict patient response to psychiatric medications and improve treatment outcomes. The paper provides substantial evidence that psychiatric pharmacogenomic testing has proven clinical value in predicting how individual patients will tolerate and respond to specific psychiatric medications. These findings refute results of a previous assessment of pharmacogenomic testing conducted in 2007 by the Evaluation of Genomic Applications in Practice and Prevention initiative (EGAPP) which concluded that there was insufficient evidence to determine the value of pharmacogenomic testing for adults beginning treatment with SSRI antidepressants. The current article titled “Clinical Validity of Cytochrome P450 Metabolism and Serotonin Gene Variants in Psychiatric Pharmacotherapy”* reviewed published data collected since 2007 examining how DNA sequence variations between individuals can affect their metabolism and response to medications. The preponderance of evidence from these studies supports the validity of analyzing patients’ genetic profile to predict the metabolism, safety, and therapeutic efficacy of psychotropic medications commonly used for the treatment of depression, schizophrenia, and bipolar disorder. “A review of 294 scientific studies published since the EGAPP report clearly demonstrates the clinical validity of multiple genes in predicting patient responses to antidepressant medications. This assessment is further supported by multiple clinical trials demonstrating that understanding variations in these same genes leads to better treatment decisions and better patient outcomes,” said C. Anthony Altar, Ph.D., Chief Science Officer of Assurex Health and lead author. “The review of these clinical and scientific data clearly reinforces the benefits of pharmacogenomic testing in aiding medication selection and augmenting patient responses to antidepressant and antipsychotic medications. Use of pharmacogenomic testing leads to earlier identification of optimal treatment protocols for individual patients,” said Assurex Health CEO James S. Burns. “The question is no longer whether pharmacogenomic testing is ready for routine clinical use; rather, how to make it available earlier in the course of patient treatment to improve patient outcomes.” About the Publication The authors conducted a systematic literature review to assess whether pharmacokinetic (PK) or pharmacodynamic (PD) responses to 26 commonly prescribed antidepressant and antipsychotic medications, including efficacy or side effects, are associated with nucleotide polymorphisms in eight commonly studied genes in psychiatric pharmacotherapy. Of the 294 publications reviewed, a majority showed significant associations between polymorphisms and patient response to psychotropic medications. In many cases, a lack of association was traced to inappropriate comparisons between a medication and the gene being evaluated. The findings showed that combinatorial pharmacogenomic tests can help predict genetically appropriate medication choices and improve patient outcomes. *Authors of the article are: C. Anthony Altar, Ph.D., John Hornberger, M.D., M.S., Ashwini Shewade, M.S., M.Sc., Victor Cruz, B.S., Jill Garrison, M.S. and David Mrazek, M.D., FRC-Psych. The review has been dedicated to the memory of David A. Mrazek, a pioneer in the theory and clinical application of psychiatric pharmacogenomics. 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. Mayo Clinic has a financial interest in the technology referenced in this news release. 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 Which Mental Health Provider Should I Consider? A Symptom-Based Guide The support of a good healthcare provider can make all the difference when you’re struggling with your mental health. But how do you connect to one in a sea of ... Read more Patient One explanation for why we experience Side Effects? Understanding Your Genetic Response to Antidepressants Antidepressants often play an essential role in helping patients with their mental health conditions. But as many patients can attest, it’s frustrating when... 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Read more Patient Mindful Moments: Tips for Anxiety If a well-meaning friend or family member has ever told you to “just breathe” when you’re feeling worked up or stressed out, you’d be forgiven if you felt l... Read more Learn more Learn more about GeneSight How to talk to your provider View our clinical studies
Patient Which Mental Health Provider Should I Consider? A Symptom-Based Guide The support of a good healthcare provider can make all the difference when you’re struggling with your mental health. But how do you connect to one in a sea of ... Read more
Patient One explanation for why we experience Side Effects? Understanding Your Genetic Response to Antidepressants Antidepressants often play an essential role in helping patients with their mental health conditions. But as many patients can attest, it’s frustrating when... 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
Patient Mindful Moments: Tips for Anxiety If a well-meaning friend or family member has ever told you to “just breathe” when you’re feeling worked up or stressed out, you’d be forgiven if you felt l... Read more