MD Labs' Rxight advances President's Precision Medicine Initiative
WASHINGTON – In an effort to expand upon President Barack Obama’s Precision Medicine Initiative and explore innovative ways to individualize patient care, representatives from MD Labs recently met with senior leadership at the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy.
In the 2015 State of the Union address, Obama announced the launch of the Precision Medicine Initiative — a bold new research effort to revolutionize how the U.S. healthcare system improves health and treats disease. Until now, most medical treatments have been designed for the “average patient.” As a result of this “one-size-fits-all” approach, treatments can be very successful for some patients but not for others.
The Precision Medicine Initiative, on the other hand, is an innovative approach that takes into account individual differences in people’s genes, environments and lifestyles. It gives medical professionals the resources they need to target the specific treatments of illnesses, further develops scientific and medical research and keeps families healthier.
During MD Labs' visit, the team discussed how Rxight, a comprehensive pharmacogenetic program, helps people receive the right medication and dosing and avoid medications that could cause unintended side effects and complications. Rxight utilizes pharmacogenetic technology that focuses on the patient’s DNA, rather than relying on a process of trial and error to predict medication response.
Obama alluded to this technology when commenting on precision medicine on Jan. 30. “What if figuring out the right dose of medicine was as simple as taking our temperature?" he asked. "And that’s the promise of precision medicine — delivering the right treatments at the right time, every time, to the right person.”
“We’re proud to support this promising initiative that will help change how medicine is practiced today and in the future,” stated Denis Grizelj, co-founder and CEO MD Labs, creators of the Rxight program. “We want to help healthcare providers maximize their clinical care, and through Rxight they can be further assured that the medications they prescribe are tailored for their patients and can reduce the risk of side effects.”
The Rxight pharmacogenetic program is unique because it covers more than 210 prescription and over-the-counter medications, and includes a Personalized Medication Review with a Rxight Certified Pharmacist. Through a simple cheek swab, the test can identify key genetic markers that highlight how a patient’s body metabolizes and processes different medications. People who choose to get the test receive a lifetime of benefits as medication needs are expected to change as one ages.
“With Rxight, we can identify how genetic variation can lead to unintended medication consequences that may contribute to patients not taking their medication as prescribed and also help reduce long-term health care costs of medications not suited for that individual,” said Amina Abubakar, a Rxight Certified Pharmacist and pharmacy owner/operator out of the Charlotte, N.C. market.