Genomas Presents Drug-Specific Genetic Determinants Of Statin Safety And Efficacy At The XV International Symposium On Atherosclerosis

Main Category: Cardiovascular / Cardiology
Also Included In: Vascular;  Genetics;  Clinical Trials / Drug Trials
Article Date: 16 Jun 2009 - 2:00 PST

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Genomas, a biomedical company advancing DNA-guided medicine and personalized healthcare, announced its participation at the prestigious XV International Symposium on Atherosclerosis, a meeting held triennially by the International Atherosclerosis Society. Gualberto Ruano, MD, PhD, President of Genomas, will present "Physiogenomic Contours of Statin Safety and Efficacy," a clinical study examining the differences in response to statin drugs based on individual gene variations.

Statins offer effective strategies to reduce cardiovascular disease and improve survival. However, there are clinically relevant safety risks for some patients. Statin-induced neuro-myopathy (SINM) may present as muscle aches, cramps, weakness, and muscle injury. SINM is more frequent at the higher doses required for treating advanced heart disease, and varies in extent between individual statins and from patient to patient. In previously published studies, over 10% of statin patients experienced neuromuscular side effects, causing disruptions in daily life activities, and reduction in regimen adherence.

In this study, 442 outpatients treated with atorvastatin, rosuvastatin and/or simvastatin were studied in lipid clinics at Hartford Hospital (Hartford, CT) and the University of California, San Francisco. Researchers genotyped 384 SNPs (single nucleotide polymorphisms) from 222 cardiometabolic and neuroendocrine genes with a potential role in determining the safety and efficacy of statins. The study was funded in part by a grant from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences of the National Institutes of Health.

"Contrasting quantitatively how the gene polymorphisms associate with clinical responses, we visualize the 'physiogenomic contours' of statin drugs," said Dr. Ruano. "These contours represent the mechanistic differences among statins, which we plan to use as the foundation for DNA-guided rules for treatment on a patient-individualized basis."

ABOUT GENOMAS

Genomas is a biomedical company advancing DNA-guided medicine and personalized healthcare. The company is developing and testing revolutionary PhyzioType(TM) Systems for DNA-guided diagnosis and prevention of metabolic disorders induced by drugs used to treat diabetes, and cardiovascular and psychiatric illnesses. PhyzioType Systems are designed to provide physicians with an unprecedented capability to select for each patient the safest drug treatment to enhance compliance. Genomas is located in Hartford, CT on the campus of Hartford Hospital.

Source: Genomas

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