Assurex Health Launches Comprehensive Genetic-Based Test to Help Clinicians Select Pain Medications for Patients

MASON, Ohio, April 30, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Assurex Health, Inc. today announced a significant expansion of its GeneSight® Analgesic test.  The expanded test gives clinicians a multi-gene pharmacogenomics tool to guide medication decisions for patients with acute or chronic pain using patients' own genetic profiles to help determine their potential response to 22 medications across four relevant medication classes: opioids, NSAIDs, muscle relaxants, and opioid dependency.

Chronic pain affects over 100 million adult Americans -- more than are affected by heart disease, cancer and diabetes combined, and costs the nation upwards of $635 billion a year in health care costs and lost productivity, according to the Institute of Medicine (2011).  Over one-third experience moderate-to-severe or debilitating pain.

"GeneSight Analgesic is the only clinical test that matches an individual's combined genetic profile -- from seven scientifically validated genes critical to the response and metabolism of pain medications -- with proven pharmacology of 22 medications from four drug classes," said Bryan M. Dechairo, Ph.D., Senior Vice President, Medical Affairs and Clinical Development at Assurex Health.

"The new GeneSight Analgesic report presents clinicians with highly individualized information in an actionable, easy-to-interpret report to identify genetically concordant medications that help manage a patient's pain with fewer side effects," Dechairo said. "This test can be used for patients starting treatment for the first time or at subsequent points during their treatment.  It also gives clinicians guidance on how to use genetically concordant medications in combination."

Covers opioids, NSAIDs, muscle relaxants and opioid-dependency medications

GeneSight Analgesic incorporates the latest science on specific genes and genetic variations that affect a patient's response to pain medications.  The new test, an enhancement of the version first launched in early 2012, now analyzes seven pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic genes responsible for medication metabolism and response to pain medications. 

The updated GeneSight Analgesic now covers 22 medications representing more than 98% of medications prescribed for low back pain:

Opioids: Buprenorphine (Butrans^®), Codeine (Codeine Contin^®), Fentanyl (Duragesic^®), Hydrocodone (Vicodin^®), Hydromorphone (Dilaudid^®), Meperidine (Demerol^®), Methadone (Dolophine^®), Morphine (Avinza^®), Oxycodone (Oxycontin^®), Oxymorphone (Opana^®), Tapentadol (Nucynta^®),  Tramadol (Ultram^®)
NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs): Ketorolac (Toradol^®), Celecoxib (Celebrex^®), Diclofenac (Voltaren^®), Ibuprofen (Advil^®, Motrin^®), Meloxicam (Mobic^®), Naproxen (Naprosyn^®, Aleve^®)
Muscle Relaxants: Carisoprodol (Soma^®), Cyclobenzaprine (Flexeril^®)
Addiction Medications:  Buprenorphine/naloxone (Suboxone^®), Naltrexone (Revia^®, Vivitrol^®)

GeneSight Analgesic analyzes more than 150,000 gene-drug combinations to generate personalized patient reports.  The report places FDA-approved medications into three color-coded categories based on the patient's genetic profile:  "Use as Directed" in green, "Use with Caution" in yellow, or "Use with Increased Caution and with More Frequent Monitoring" in red. The report also alerts clinicians to the implications of genetic information on dosage and FDA-approved package inserts as well as detailed information on medications' metabolism and mechanisms of actions.

"The expanded GeneSight Analgesic test gives me many more options to guide my decisions," said Louis J. Raso, M.D., an interventional pain management specialist in Jupiter, Florida. "I can identify a range of pain medications my patients are most likely to have success with based on their individual genetic make-up, and choose opioids, non-opioids or a combination where they are warranted."

About GeneSight
GeneSight Analgesic is one of four Assurex Health products powered by GeneSight technology.  GeneSight Analgesic analyzes a patient's DNA to aid pain medication selection; GeneSight Psychotropic measures a patient's genetic response to antidepressant and antipsychotic medications;  GeneSight ADHD matches a patient's response to ADHD medications, including stimulant and non-stimulant medications; and GeneSight MTHFR helps determine if additional folic acid supplementation may be effective for patients with depression.

GeneSight results, available 36 hours after Assurex Health receives a patient's cheek swab sample from a clinician, are provided in an easy-to-read, actionable composite report for healthcare providers to quickly determine which medications are genetically appropriate for an individual patient.

GeneSight's efficacy and economic utility are validated in four peer-reviewed published clinical studies which document that patients being treated for depression are greater than two times more likely to respond when physicians use GeneSight to guide their treatment. More than 8,000 health care practitioners have used GeneSight to guide treatment decisions for over 75,000 patients.

Many commercial insurance plans and government payers reimburse all or part of the cost of GeneSight. In addition, Assurex Health offers financial assistance programs for patients who qualify.

About Assurex Health
Assurex Health is a personalized medicine company, dedicated to helping clinicians determine the right medication for individual patients with neuropsychiatric and other medical conditions. Assurex Health's proprietary technology is based on pharmacogenomics – the study of the genetic factors that influence an individual's response to medication treatments – as well as evidence-based medicine and clinical pharmacology. The company was founded to commercialize industry-leading personalized medicine technology for neuropsychiatric disorders. Assurex Health has licensed patented technology from Mayo Clinic and Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center.

For more information about Assurex Health, please visit www.assurexhealth.com.

SOURCE Assurex Health, Inc.