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news.Medco Health Solutions and Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings have reached a strategic research agreement to advance in the field of pharmacogenomics, an emerging science integrating genetics and drug treatment.
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The research effort, which will be centered on tamoxifen, is the latest in a rapidly growing field of studies linking individual genetics to the safety and efficacy of specific prescription drugs. Genotyping for the study will be performed using the FDA-cleared Roche AmpliChip CYP450 test. Tamoxifen, a drug that deprives certain tumors of estrogen needed for their growth, treats some forms of breast cancer and prevents the disease from occurring in some women at high risk for the condition.
Myla Lai-Goldman, executive vice president, chief scientific officer and medical director for Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings, said: “This agreement is between two industry leaders that are at the forefront of the movement toward personalized medicine. Companion diagnostics can help physicians determine which drug will be most effective for particular patients. This will benefit patients and lower healthcare costs by improving outcomes, enhancing safety and reducing ineffective drug regimens.”