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 Rooting for Mental Health Heroes at the 2026 Winter Olympics The Winter Olympics has brought us unforgettable moments—Miracle on Ice, Torvill and Dean’s Bolero, the Jamaican bobsled team. They also showed heartbreak: cras... Read more Healthcare Provider PRIME Care Time-to-Event Analysis In 2022, the United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) undertook the Precision Medicine in Mental Health Care, or PRIME Care study, the largest phar... Read more Patient Healthcare Provider The GeneSight® Test: Announces New Updates As part of our ongoing commitment to ensuring that our tests evolve with the latest scientific research and clinical needs, we’ve updated the GeneSight Test. Th... Read more Patient Is “Anxiety” on Your Playlist? “Anxiety, keep on tryin' me I feel it quietly, tryna silence me, yeah Anxiety, shake it off of me Somebody's watchin' me, it's my anxiety, yeah (Brrah) …And... Read more Patient Break the resolution cycle: How simple solutions can transform 2026 Like every year, many of us make New Year’s resolutions and try to stick to them, but broad, all-or-nothing changes often set us up for failure and can make... Read more Patient Antidepressant Fatigue in Seniors: A Caregiver’s Guide to Reducing Daytime Sleepiness Without Losing Symptom Control You’re spending time with the older adult in your care who also happens to have clinical depression. You’re keeping tabs on how well they’re doing and wheth... Read more Patient Empowering Senior Patient Care with Pharmacogenomics: Insights from the GeneSight Engage Webinar The most recent GeneSight Engage webinar explored how pharmacogenomic testing, particularly the GeneSight® test, is transforming the landscape of mental health ... Read more 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 Learn more Learn more about GeneSight How to talk to your provider View our clinical studies
Patient Rooting for Mental Health Heroes at the 2026 Winter Olympics The Winter Olympics has brought us unforgettable moments—Miracle on Ice, Torvill and Dean’s Bolero, the Jamaican bobsled team. They also showed heartbreak: cras... Read more
Healthcare Provider PRIME Care Time-to-Event Analysis In 2022, the United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) undertook the Precision Medicine in Mental Health Care, or PRIME Care study, the largest phar... Read more
Patient Healthcare Provider The GeneSight® Test: Announces New Updates As part of our ongoing commitment to ensuring that our tests evolve with the latest scientific research and clinical needs, we’ve updated the GeneSight Test. Th... Read more
Patient Is “Anxiety” on Your Playlist? “Anxiety, keep on tryin' me I feel it quietly, tryna silence me, yeah Anxiety, shake it off of me Somebody's watchin' me, it's my anxiety, yeah (Brrah) …And... Read more
Patient Break the resolution cycle: How simple solutions can transform 2026 Like every year, many of us make New Year’s resolutions and try to stick to them, but broad, all-or-nothing changes often set us up for failure and can make... Read more
Patient Antidepressant Fatigue in Seniors: A Caregiver’s Guide to Reducing Daytime Sleepiness Without Losing Symptom Control You’re spending time with the older adult in your care who also happens to have clinical depression. You’re keeping tabs on how well they’re doing and wheth... Read more
Patient Empowering Senior Patient Care with Pharmacogenomics: Insights from the GeneSight Engage Webinar The most recent GeneSight Engage webinar explored how pharmacogenomic testing, particularly the GeneSight® test, is transforming the landscape of mental health ... Read more
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