The companies have begun work on developing a product that could be used to select the most appropriate drug and dosage for patients treated for psychiatric diseases.
Although many therapeutic options are available for patients suffering from schizophrenia and depression, for some patients the side effects of drug therapy can range from unpleasant to life-threatening. Determining optimal drug regimens and dosing strategies are challenges that are currently addressed by trial-and-error prescribing practices.
Side effects may be caused by a variety of factors, including variations in genes that are targets of the drugs or are involved in drug response. In addition to the negative effect on an individual’s health, significant direct and indirect costs are associated with these adverse drug responses.
“We are optimistic that Nanogen’s partnership with Pathway Diagnostics will result in exciting products that will contribute to more personalized medical treatments,” said Howard Birndorf, Nanogen’s chairman of the board and CEO. “Because our NanoChip platform can simultaneously analyze multiple genetic markers, we have the capability to develop a diagnostic panel to detect these newly licensed genetic variations, along with genes in the cytochrome P450 family that are related to drug metabolism, in order to allow the physician to prescribe the right drug at the right dosage.”