Millennium Laboratories Launches Pharmacogenetic Testing at PAINWeek® 2012; Sponsors Symposium on Personalizing Pain Care

SAN DIEGO, Sept. 5, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Millennium Laboratories, the leading research-based clinical diagnostic company dedicated to improving the lives of people suffering from pain and/or addiction, announced today the launch of Millennium Pharmacogenetic Testing (PGT) at PAINWeek® 2012 in Las Vegas. Millennium PGT is saliva based testing used to detect genetic variations in enzymes associated with the metabolism of medications commonly prescribed to patients suffering from debilitating chronic pain and pain-related effects. The test is designed to help clinicians identify patients who may benefit from modifying the drug selection or dosing of certain prescribed opioids including methadone, benzodiazepines, tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs), selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), and serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs).

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The company first introduced Millennium PGT to a select group of clinicians in June and is now engaging more healthcare professionals who are incorporating pharmacogenetics into the management of pain. 

The clinical value of pharmacogenetic testing in the field of pain management will also be explored in depth at a Millennium Laboratories-sponsored lunch symposium during the conference. Personalizing Pain Care with Pharmacogenetics: Case Studies in Medication Monitoring, Metabolites and Metabolism will examine how this emerging technology, when used in conjunction with urine drug testing, may help prescribers optimize choice of effective medication while potentially minimizing side effects and drug-drug interactions. Case studies will be presented that illustrate the clinical application of an individual's metabolism profile as it relates to personalized medication therapy.

The symposium will feature a panel of four nationally recognized pain experts:

• Michael Brennan, MD, Director, Pain Center of Fairfield, Fairfield, Connecticut
• Forest Tennant, MD, FACPM, MPH, DrPH, Veract Intractable Pain Clinic, West Covina, California
• Jeffrey A. Gudin, MD, Director of Pain Management and Palliative Care, Englewood Hospital and Medical Center, Englewood, New Jersey
• Joseph D. Ma, PharmD, Assistant Professor, University of California, San Diego Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, La Jolla, California.

"Individual genetic differences in medication metabolism can significantly impact the efficacy of medication therapy in pain care. By identifying patient-specific drug metabolism, pharmacogenetic testing can potentially pave the way for personalized medicine in the field of pain management," said Angela Huskey, PharmD, CPE, Associate VP of Clinical Affairs at Millennium Laboratories and Research Scientist with Millennium Research Institute. "This symposium, featuring a panel of esteemed experts, is especially timely, and Millennium is proud to continue to support clinicians with research and education of this caliber."

Angela Huskey Cited by American Society of Pain Educators
At PAINWeek®, Angela Huskey will receive the American Society of Pain Educators (ASPE)'s prestigious Industry Pain Educator of the Year Award. Presented by the ASPE since 2009, this national award recognizes an educator of excellence in the field of pain management. The presentation will take place during today's keynote presentation.

Poster Presentations
For the second consecutive year, the Millennium Research Institute, a nonprofit national research center, will be presenting scientific data at PAINWeek® through its partnership with Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD). Poster presentations by UCSD doctoral pharmacy students will take place on Thursday, September 6^th. A full list of the posters, their presentation times and locations will be available at the Millennium Laboratories booth (#310).

About Millennium Laboratories
Millennium Laboratories (http://millenniumlabs.com/) is the leading research-based, clinical diagnostic company dedicated to improving the lives of people with chronic pain and/or addiction. The company provides healthcare professionals with medication monitoring, drug detection and pharmacogenetic testing services to personalize treatment plans to improve clinical outcomes and patient safety.

Millennium's commitment to advancing the science of pain management includes a strong focus on industry research, education and advocacy. Through its association with the Millennium Research Institute, a nonprofit national research center, it has gained respect as a leader in providing healthcare professionals with education and research to advance the assessment and management of chronic pain.

SOURCE Millennium Laboratories