Review supports pharmacogenomic testing for some psychiatric drugs, Assurex Health says

MASON, Ohio — A personalized medicine company said a new study justifies clinical use of pharmacogenomic testing to help predict patients' response to psychiatric medications and improve treatment outcomes.

Assurex Health said a review published in the International Review of Psychiatry provides "substantial evidence" that pharmacogenomic testing — which is analysis of how patients' genetic makeup affects their response to drugs — has clinical value in predicting how individual patients will tolerate and respond to specific psychiatric drugs. The review, titled "Clinical Validity of Cytochrome P450 Metabolism and Serotonin Gene Variants in Psychiatric Pharmacotherapy," reviewed published data collected since 2007.

Furthermore, Assurex said, the findings refute results of a previous assessment of pharmacogenomic testing in 2007 by the Evaluation of Genomic Applications in Practice and Prevention initiative, which concluded there was insufficient evidence to determine the value of pharmacogenomic testing for adults starting treatment on certain antidepressants.

"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," lead study author and Assurex chief science officer C. Anthony Altar said. "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."