Pharmacogenomics News and Research

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The terms pharmacogenomics and pharmacogenetics are often used interchangeably to describe a field of research focused on how genes affect individual responses to medicines. Whether a medicine works well for you—or whether it causes serious side effects—depends, to a certain extent, on your genes.

Researchers use healthy person's complete genome sequence to predict risk for dozens of diseases

For the first time, researchers have used a healthy person's complete genome sequence to predict his risk for dozens of diseases and how he will respond to several common medications. The risk analysis, from the Stanford University School of Medicine, also incorporates more-traditional information such as a patient's age and gender and other clinical measurements.

30 Apr 2010

Genetic test to predict newborns requiring hospital readmission shortly after birth

The results of two separate research studies taking place at Children's Mercy Hospitals and Clinics will help physicians use genetic testing to prevent complications, and ease the worry of new parents by predicting in advance which newborns may require readmission to the hospital shortly after birth. The studies also will help physicians identify which of their young patients are likely to respond well - or not - to steroid therapy for asthma.

29 Apr 2010

Experts discuss recent advancements in personalized medicine for treating childhood disorders

Many of the world's leading experts in pediatric pharmacogenomics and personalized medicine are gathering today at a first-of-its-kind conference in Kansas City to change the way childhood diseases and illnesses are treated.

29 Apr 2010

First-of-its-kind conference on personalized medicine for pediatric patients

The world's leading experts in pediatric pharmacogenomics and personalized medicine are gathering at a first-of-its-kind conference in Kansas City to change the way childhood diseases and illnesses are treated through personalized medicine.

22 Apr 2010

Positive preclinical pharmacokinetic data for XMT-1001 presented at AACR 2010

Mersana Therapeutics, a platform-based cancer therapeutics company, announced today positive preclinical pharmacokinetic data for its lead development candidate, XMT-1001, which is currently in a Phase 1 clinical trial in patients with advanced solid tumors. The results were presented in a poster session at the AACR 101st Annual Meeting 2010 in Washington, DC, held April 17-21, 2010.

21 Apr 2010

Fairbanks Institute and BioServe to co-market next generation biorepository, INbank

The Fairbanks Institute for Healthy Communities, the Indianapolis not-for-profit organization working to improve community health, and BioServe, a global provider of biomaterial and genetic research services, today announced that they will co-market INbank™, a next generation biorepository that was recently launched by The Fairbanks Institute.

31 Mar 2010

Minimal improvements made in survival rates of AYA population with cancer

Despite cancer survival rates increasing dramatically for children and older adults in the last 20 years, there has been minimal improvement in the survival rates in the Adolescent and Young Adult (AYA) population, an age range defined as 15 – 29 years by the presenters.

16 Mar 2010

FASEB President describes critical role biomedical research plays in improving public health

Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology (FASEB) President Mark O. Lively, Ph.D., addressed a Capitol Hill audience, including congressional staff, and members of the Coalition for Health Funding today to describe the critical role biomedical research plays in improving public health.

3 Mar 2010

Genetic test for autism: Transgenomic licenses exclusive intellectual property from IntegraGen

Transgenomic, Inc. announced today that it has licensed on an exclusive U.S. basis intellectual property from IntegraGen SA that will enable Transgenomic to develop and commercialize a genetic test designed to assess the risk of autism in children who have older siblings diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder. Under the agreement Transgenomic will develop the test in the Company's CAP-accredited and CLIA-certified laboratory, and anticipates launching the new test in the second quarter of 2010. Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

24 Feb 2010

Medco Health Solutions announces record 16.7% increase in total net revenues for 2009

Medco Health Solutions, Inc. today reported record fourth-quarter 2009 GAAP diluted earnings per share of $0.70, up 29.6 percent compared to $0.54 in fourth-quarter 2008. Excluding the amortization of intangible assets that existed when Medco became a publicly traded company in 2003, fourth-quarter 2009 diluted earnings per share increased 28.8 percent to a record $0.76. Medco also reported record full-year 2009 GAAP diluted earnings per share of $2.61, up 22.5 percent -- exceeding the high-end of the company's guidance.

23 Feb 2010

IRA to offer Personal Genetic Health and Ancestry Testing to residents of Latin America

Pathway Genomics™ (www.PATHWAY.com), a privately held, venture-backed company today announced that the Instituto de Referencia Andino (IRA), a Clinical Laboratory and Division of Rochem Biocare will offer Personal Genetic Health and Ancestry Testing to residents of Latin America.

18 Feb 2010

StayWell Consumer Health Publishing to feature consumer health information in Pathway Genomics Genetic Health Report

Pathway Genomics™ (www.PATHWAY.com), a privately held, venture-backed company today announced an agreement with StayWell Consumer Health Publishing to feature a robust suite of consumer health information in Pathway’s Genetic Health Reports.

17 Feb 2010

Study validates Transgenomic's COLD-PCR technology for colorectal tumor-associated KRAS mutation detection

Transgenomic, Inc. announced today that it has completed a preliminary study with a leading pharmaceutical company that validates the use of its licensed COLD-PCR technology to detect colorectal tumor-associated KRAS mutations that determine efficacy of recently developed therapies. These were detected in plasma samples in which the mutation levels were too low for detection by standard DNA analysis methodologies such as Sanger sequencing.

9 Feb 2010

Medco Health Solutions acquires DNA Direct

Committed to being at the forefront of translating personalized medicine from the science to its daily practice in healthcare, Medco Health Solutions, Inc. today announced the acquisition of DNA Direct, Inc., a leader in providing guidance and decision support for genomic medicine to patients, providers, payors and employees.

2 Feb 2010

Asuragen enters into research agreements to develop microRNA-based diagnostic test

Asuragen, Inc., a leader in molecular diagnostics and RNA-based pharmacogenomics services, announced today that it has entered into research agreements with The University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, the H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center, Dartmouth’s Hitchcock Medical Center and the University of Sherbrooke to develop a microRNA-based diagnostic test to aid the detection of pancreatic cancer from fine-needle aspirate (FNA) biopsies.

1 Feb 2010

Global market for oncology drugs is forecast to reach $80 billion by 2050

New Medicine's Oncology KnowledgeBASE (nm/OK) residing at http://nmok.net became available on the Internet 10 years ago and, since then, the oncology field has evolved into one of the most challenging, complex and promising drug development sectors, both in terms of its potential contribution to medicine and to its market opportunities.

29 Jan 2010

ACM Global Central Laboratory launches enhanced version of its proprietary LabStar system

ACM Global Central Laboratory, the global central lab that continually defines the customer-service standard with its flexible approach, has launched an enhanced version of its proprietary LabStarSM system, which captures all clinical trial testing data in a single location for easy access and comprehensive reporting.

28 Jan 2010

Carlos Slim Health Institute launches major research project in genomic medicine

Mexican business leader Carlos Slim Hel- today announced the launch of a major research project in genomic medicine that will help accelerate progress in public health in Mexico and around the world.

20 Jan 2010

ESF-UB Conference to concentrate on potentially clinically relevant polymorphisms

Pharmacogenetics started in the fifties with the discovery of primaquine-related haemolysis among glucose-6-phosphate deshydrogenase deficient patients. At the end of the century, it progressively evolved into Pharmacogenomics, investigating simultaneously multiple gene targets till covering the whole genome in relation with altered drug response.

8 Jan 2010

DMET genotyping platform screens for 1256 genetic variations in 170 genes

It's the ultimate goal in the treatment of cancer: tailoring a person's therapy based on his or her genetic makeup. While a lofty goal, scientists are steadily moving forward, rapidly exploiting new technologies. Researchers at Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center report a significant advance in this field of research using a new chip that looks for hundreds of mutations in dozen of genes.

29 Dec 2009