Medications

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TURLOCK, Calif., Oct. 26 /PRNewswire/ Each year, millions of Americans fail to respond to their prescribed medications, or experience adverse reactions. Reports indicate that medication errors cause an estimated two million Americans to be hospitalized or disabled, causing an estimated 100,000 people to die. Many of these drug reactions occur because medications are not being properly processed. An individual's genetic makeup plays a major role in determining how quickly drugs are processed.

As part of its ongoing mission to help protect and save lives, MedicAlert(R) is making the Signature Genetics(TM) drug reaction test available to its members nationwide. Physicians will now have the ability to customize drug prescriptions, based on an individual patient's genetic makeup. The test also identifies drug combinations that can cause potentially harmful interactions.

Signature Genetics(TM) matches the individual patient's DNA test results against their drug regimen and the scientific literature to produce a personalized report. The report identifies how an individual will metabolize or process medications and indicates potential serious adverse reactions to many of the most commonly prescribed drugs, including drugs used in such therapeutic areas as psychiatry (Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease), cardiology (heart disease and infarction), endocrinology (diabetes), oncology (breast cancer), and gastroenterology (reflux disease and ulcers). This report reviews current medications and highlights future medications that are better suited to the patient's particular genetic make-up. A copy of the report is stored in the member's electronic health record in the secure MedicAlert repository, and if requested by the member, a copy can be sent to their designated physician.

"We continue to seek new products and services that will enhance the lives of our customers and business partners. The introduction of Signature Genetics(TM) shows that MedicAlert continues to lead the effort in patient safety," said Paul Kortschak, President and CEO of MedicAlert.

"Together with MedicAlert(R), our Signature Genetics Report will provide scientifically validated interpretive information and guidance for their Members and the medical profession to optimize drug therapy and minimize drug- related adverse events," said Patrick Rambaud, President and CEO of Seryx.

"In the past the challenge was to conduct genetic testing. But now genetic testing is inexpensive and straightforward. The challenge for us at this point is to process the abundance of genetic information that can be obtained with state of the art technology and to apply that knowledge to clinical medicine. Practicing physicians need to know how genetic variations in Pharmacogenetics pathways can impact on the use and dosage of specific drugs taken by their patients as well as on drug-drug interactions. The ability to understand and process such knowledge can make the difference between optimal and substandard medical care," said Dr. Julio Licinio, Director, Center for Pharmacogenomics & Clinical Pharmacology, Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior - David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA.

About MedicAlert

The MedicAlert Foundation is a non-profit healthcare informatics organization dedicated to providing services to our members that protect and save lives. MedicAlert(R) services are built around a repository of health information that enables members to manage their personal health records while maintaining security, privacy and confidentiality. As the trusted third party custodian of comprehensive personal health information, the MedicAlert(R) repository can connect to and provide critical medical information between patients, providers, payers, and first responders 24 hours a day anywhere in the world. The premium we place on patient confidentiality has earned the trust of millions of members and the healthcare community worldwide.

MedicAlert(R) is committed to providing technology-based solutions and is an active member and a leader in developing interoperability standards with all the major Healthcare IT standards organizations. The MedicAlert(R) repository uses Web service interfaces to support standard Electronic Health Records (EHRs), including electronic drug prescriptions and for patient record interoperability. These activities will ensure the rapid development and deployment of standards to improve the quality of care, lower healthcare costs while increasing patient safety.

MedicAlert(R) is a nonprofit membership organization founded in 1956 with a mission to protect and save lives, is headquartered in the United States and has international affiliates in nine countries. Additional information about MedicAlert(R) is available at http://www.medicalert.org/.

About Seryx

MONTREAL, Quebec (CANADA) -- Seryx a pioneer in applied Pharmacogenetics is leading the way in offering applications of this cutting edge technology to physicians and their patients. Seryx through the Signature Genetics(TM) report delivers individualized fact based healthcare information in order to optimize the overall well-being of patients. Seryx was founded at the initiative of American and international scientists who wanted physicians to benefit from leading-edge science in their daily practice. Seryx has therefore formed a strong Scientific Advisory Board, including some of the most recognized experts in Pharmacogenetics and Immunogenetics worldwide. Seryx has its main office in Montreal, Canada with distribution in the USA, Europe and Asia.

-- MedicAlert(R) has partnered with Seryx to offer the pharmacogenetic test called Signature Genetics(TM) to its product portfolio.
MedicAlert Foundation CONTACT: Ramesh Srinivasan of MedicAlert Foundation, +1-209-669-2407, or
rsrinivasan@medicalert.org
Web site: http://www.medicalert.org/
Re:Left out most important thing

Hi,

The above article isn't exact with what was in the magazine I got. Here's what mainly caught my eye:

"The Signature genetics protocol can help physicians determine if patients metabolize certain drugs too slowly, too quickly, or just right, which is critical to a patient's well-being and optimum health. If a patietn metabolizes too slowly, the drug can accumulate in their body and reach potentially toxic levels. If a patient metabolizes too quickly, the drug will clear from their body before it can work. For other patients, one drug may interfere with the metabolism of another, making it useless or perhaps toxic.

The ability to assess and individual's capactiy to metabolize various drugs, meds, or herbal or natural supplements, and other nutritionals presents a real advance in patient care. This type of sophisticated DNA testing will drastically change the "One size fits all" viewpoint that has characterized prescription medication for years."

This may be why there is no consensus other than diet here on the board.MUCH MORE THAN A TEST
The testing process begins with the patient selecting drugs they are currently taking, or have been prescribed, from a list provided by the physician. A cheek swab is then sent to the lab for DNA analysis. Signature Genetics matches the individual patients's DNA test results against their drug regimen and teh scientific literature to produce a personalized report. The report reviews current meds and highlights future meds that rare better suited to the patients particular genetic make-up. A copy fo the report is mailed to the member and stored at Medic-Alert. If requested by the member, a copy can be sent to their designated physician. The report identifies whether they may have serious adv erse reactions to many of the mnost commonly prescribed drugs, including drugs used in psychiatry, Parkinson's Alzheimers, cardiology, oncology gastroenterology.

AFFORDABLE
The signatrue Genetics test for Medic Alert members includes DNA testing, analysis, a personalized interpretation report and one-year access to updates. Fees range from $265 to $590, depending on drugs selected and genes that require testing.

Because a person's genetic makeup is a constatn throghout their life, the test results are valid for life. However, drug regimens may vary over time, and new medical discoveries must be considered. Like blood type, updated genotype info can be critical in an emergency. Medic Alert offers a renewal option for $75 per year, to make srue each person is prepared for these eventualities.

Ultimately, this translates to quicker treatment results, fewere side effects and truly personalized medicine. More info: www.medicalert.org/Seryx

Re:Left out most important thing

Wow

Pace thanks SO much. This can help explain a lot as to why something works for one person and not the other!
Re:Left out most important thing

Hi b,

I think this also goes to liver issues, perhaps Phase I & II pre-dispositions, thyroid meds, or even other ingredients contained in the effective medicine.
What this actually means

When you take medicine, it needs to be metabolized in the body. Some medicines work directly on the body, while others need to be converted to another compund (metabolized) because its actually the metabolite that's biologically active. Because most drugs are foreign substances, the body eventually needs to excrete them. Before drugs are brought to market, scientists elicidate its pharmacological pathway...i.e how is it absorbed, transported, how does it interact with the target cells and how is it excreted.
Any conversion of 1 compound to another within the body is done by enzymes. The liver can produce literally hundreds of different enzymes to convert various nutrients, chemicals, drugs etc. The raw materials for conversion are enzymes plus nutrients like vitamins and trace minerals
If the body doesn't have a detoxification pathway for a particular substance or if the pathway is impaired, then that particular substance will accumulate. That's what makes certain environmental toxins so dangerous....the body simply cannot get rid of them once absorbed, so they remain in the body, blocking receptors, mimicking hormones, deactivating enzymes etc.

Genetically, enzyme production is controlled by genes. The more genes are activated, the higher the production capacity of certain enzymes. So by understanding a drug's metabolic pathway, you understand which enzymes are required to metabolise and detoxify the body. If you then look at the rate of expression of the gene responsible for that enzyme, you understand how well the patient is able to process a particular drug.

But there's another very key observation to make from all this. Like drugs, enzymes are required to process environmental toxins and the same mechanisms that apply to drugs, apply to environmental toxins. Depending on whether a person makes a particular enzyme will depend on how well they process certain xenobiotics (biologically active compounds absorbed from outside the body). A healthy person with plenty of the right enzyme may have no problem with a relatively high concentration of a particular environmental toxin, while another healthy person who genetically makes far less of the enzyme may find that the toxin quickly accumulates and generates chronic illness.

Re: What this actually means

Steve,

"The liver can produce literally hundreds of different enzymes to convert various nutrients, chemicals, drugs etc."

I think this is fascinating! We are fearfully and wonderfully made!

"If the body doesn't have a detoxification pathway for a particular substance or if the pathway is impaired, then that particular substance will accumulate."

This is something that many MD's, ND's miss. They often have a "one-size-fits all" medical practice and don't understand that a particular "healthy" supplement or food may not be healthy at all for a particular patient.

"That's what makes certain environmental toxins so dangerous....the body simply cannot get rid of them once absorbed, so they remain in the body, blocking receptors, mimicking hormones, deactivating enzymes etc."

I know some people who seem totally unaffected by environmental toxins. Then I come along and one jolt of hairspray or perfume sends me reeling with dizziness, headache, etc.

Phenylketonurics is a metabolic disorder that is well known to medical community, now I just wish they'd recognize the others. Apparently the medical community just assumes xenobiotics, etc. can't harm us because the body is supposedly breaking down those substances into harmless particles. Multiple Chemical Sensitivity is denounced as non-existant. Mercury poisoning from dental amalgams and xenobiotic poisoning are not problems according to Mainstream Medical view. If they would just understand the part of our body not detoxifiing itself then they would get it.

Toxin removal (whether mercury, xenobiotics, pesticides, ethanol) is valuable for us despite the controversy of how to do it.

"Genetically, enzyme production is controlled by genes. The more genes are activated, the higher the production capacity of certain enzymes. So by understanding a drug's metabolic pathway, you understand which enzymes are required to metabolise and detoxify the body. If you then look at the rate of expression of the gene responsible for that enzyme, you understand how well the patient is able to process a particular drug. "

How is a drug's metabolic pathway determined? Is this deciphered in the lab.

I understand that often scientists aren't sure of the precise mechanism of how a drug works or why it is effective, just that it is. So, sometimes it remains a mystery.

Thanks for your explanation.
Re:Left out most important thing