MELVILLE, N.Y., May 10, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- The days of giving the same pill to every patient are fading into the past. Important advances in pharmacogenetics have determined that your genetic makeup directly influences your reaction to life-saving medications. Directly involved in drug metabolism, the extremely varied cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzyme family can increase or decrease your drug sensitivity. As an example, someone with the *3 allele of CYP2C9 will metabolize warfarin, an important anticoagulant drug, at one-tenth the normal rate (1). Not knowing a patient's sensitivity to a particular drug can result in a trip to the emergency room or tragic death. Pharmacogenetic research is working to understand treatment regiments based on genetic analysis, and Canon BioMedical is excited to introduce eleven new genotyping assays to complement the 32 current assays targeting these important CYP genes.
As precision medicine advances, researchers are determining the potential clinical impacts of prescribed medication based on genetic analysis. Significant pharmacogenetic research is currently performed relating to cardiology, but research is rapidly growing in the fields of chemotherapy and neuroscience. Seventy-five Novallele genotyping assays able to detect variants relevant to pharmacogenetics research are currently offered by Canon BioMedical. These products are not only for the CYP family of enzymes but also identify variations in the VKORC1, SLC6A4, and DPYD genes.
The Novallele genotyping assays detect genetic variations using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) followed by high-resolution melting (HRM) analysis on any thermocycler capable of HRM. All Novallele genotyping assays are functionally verified and focus on relevant genotypes to genetic researchers working to improve health and advance science.
"Pharmacogenetics is a fundamental discovery endeavor for Canon BioMedical," states Dennis Snyder, Senior Director of Global Commercial Operations of Canon BioMedical. "Our scientists are engaging with researchers making important discoveries. The expectation is that these discoveries will translate into precise treatment regiments, what is now defined as precision medicine. By supporting and collaborating with researchers, we will continue to support the future of precision medicine."
Our new products are now available at www.canon-biomedical.com. In addition, Canon BioMedical will present the expanded Novallele genotyping library at the Genetics and Genomics Virtual Conference presented by LabRoots on May 11–12. We will also attend the European Society of Human Genetics Conference taking place in Barcelona, Spain on May 21 and the American Association of Clinical Chemistry's Annual Scientific Meeting and Clinical Lab Expo taking place in Philadelphia, USA on July 31 to feature our new Novallele genotyping assays.
About Canon BioMedical
Canon BioMedical, a wholly owned subsidiary of Canon U.S.A., Inc., is focused on empowering the biomedical research and healthcare communities by developing, manufacturing, and marketing innovative technologies and solutions. The technologies and solutions developed will help enable clinicians and scientists to improve our health and advance science. Canon BioMedical will continue to pursue innovative solutions in line with Canon's Kyosei philosophy of social and environmental responsibility through the use of existing and emerging Canon technology as well as strategic partnerships.
Products mentioned in this release are for Research Use Only. Not for use in diagnostic procedures.
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© 2016 Canon BioMedical, Inc. All rights reserved.
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SOURCE Canon BioMedical