The collaboration will investigate and evaluate the implementation of a pharmacogenetic program in a community pharmacy.
The study involves a protocol jointly developed by Kerr Drug and UNC in which eligible individuals taking Plavix are allowed to participate in a pharmacogenetic study administered at the local community pharmacy.
The trial will also explore barriers to implementation including physician and patient acceptance, reimbursement challenges, and regulatory requirements.
Kerr Health executive vice-president Rebecca Chater said as pharmacists have expertise in medication use, they can play an important role in facilitating pharmacogenetic testing and personalized health care.
Institute for Pharmacogenomics and Individualized Therapy director Howard McLeod said increased utilization of pharmacogenetic testing should help improve drug response rates and reduce adverse events.
The recent studies have identified genetic variations in the cytochrome P450 2C19 gene as key factors associated with differing clinical response to clopidogrel therapy.