Consumer Genetics, Inc of Sunnyvale is pleased to announce the release of a new product, the b16AsthmaGEN™ test. This product aids asthmatics and their physicians in predicting how patients will respond to long-term use of medications known as beta agonists, commonly found in inhalers for treatment of acute asthma symptoms. The b16AsthmaGEN™ test, marketed directly to consumers, will aid in individualizing asthma therapy based on patients’ genes, thereby avoiding the time-consuming and often frustrating trial-and-error process of finding the optimum medication.
“We at Consumer Genetics are excited to offer this affordable, noninvasive, convenient genetic test. This will provide an important tool to physicians and their patients in the effective control of asthma symptoms,” states Dr. Chinh Bach, founder and CEO of Consumer Genetics. “This test fulfills a need in the medical community generated by numerous studies, including the BARGE study of albuterol, showing the effects of genes on successful medication. ”
Various studies, including the Beta Adrenergic Receptor by Genotype (BARGE) trial, have shown how an asthmatic’s genes determine how the patient will respond to medications containing beta agonists, commonly prescribed for relief of acute asthma symptoms, or “attacks.” When a mist containing albuterol or powder containing salmeterol is inhaled, the medication binds to the beta2-adrenergic receptors located in airways, relaxing smooth muscles and providing symptom relief. Studies have shown that asthmatics with a particular form of the gene for the beta2-adrenergic receptor, called the Arg16 variant, have poorer control of their asthma “attacks” after 16 weeks of daily use of albuterol, despite initially responding well to drug therapy. Long-term ineffectiveness of beta agonists was not seen in asthmatics with the more common Gly16 variant. Discontinuing use of albuterol eventually improved control of asthma “attacks” in patients with the Arg16 form of the gene for the beta2-adrenergic receptor. Thus, using b16AsthmaGEN™ in order to discover whether an asthmatic has the Arg16 or the Gly16 form of the beta2-adrenergic receptor will lead to personalized asthma therapy.
Dr. Bach adds “These are not rare genetic events. Up to 20% of some populations have been shown to carry the Arg16 variant of the beta2-adrenergic receptor.”
Consumer Genetics, Inc., a new innovative biotech company, is located in the heart of Silicon Valley. We provide home-based genetic tests to inform individuals about their health and genetics .
Please contact Preston Baecker, Ph.D,
This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it
at Consumer Genetics for further information [(408) 734-2229].
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