2008-07-21 21:18:07 -
www.ParagonDx.com - ParagonDx, LLC Tricia Yowell, Director of Marketing 919-653-3742 press@ParagonDx.com ParagonDx, LLC, a leader in genetic testing diagnostics, will lead a group of five organizations in an unprecedented display of personalized medicine diagnostics. Thousands of attendees at the annual meeting of the American Association of Clinical Chemistry (AACC) will have the opportunity to take
a genetic test that helps determine an individual's sensitivity to warfarin (also known as Coumadin(R)), a blood thinner that prevents and treats blood clots. The test will be conducted entirely on the floor of the convention, with results delivered in just a few hours. ParagonDx expects to collect over 2,000 samples for testing during the four-day conference that will run from July 28-31 in Washington, D.C.
ParagonDx's Rapid Genotyping Assay for CYP2C9 & VKORC1 represents a leap forward in assessing warfarin sensitivity. Because of the wide variation in how people metabolize the drug, doctors determine the correct dose for each individual by trial and error, often taking as long as 30 days to adjust the medication. Many patients are at risk of developing serious adverse reactions during this period. Too much warfarin can lead to excessive bleeding, while too little can increase the chance of stroke. The in vitro diagnostic test from ParagonDx provides results in less than one hour. The rapid turnaround time provides a significant advantage to patients because doctors can determine individual warfarin requirements while patients are still in the emergency room or soon after a visit to the doctor.
The sample collection process at AACC will take about 10 minutes. Volunteers will sign consent forms in the demonstration booth (#3731) and then provide a saliva sample using the Oragene DNA Self-Collection Kit by DNA Genotek. Extracted DNA from the saliva will be analyzed for the presence of CYP2C9 and VKORC1 mutations. Within 24 hours, the de-identified genotype results will be posted on the warfarin demonstration website, www.warfarindemo.biz.
"We are hoping that attendees at this year's meeting will take advantage of the unique opportunity to see this important test firsthand," said Michael P. Murphy, president and CEO of ParagonDx. "They don't have to give blood; they just spit into a cup. In a clinical setting, they'd get results in less than one hour. A lot of people have the idea that genetic testing is difficult, but doing it during a trade show in a small booth should show how easily it can be implemented by laboratories."
ParagonDx's partners in this exercise are DNA Genotek, Promega, PGxL Laboratories and the Center for Molecular Medicine. Murphy and DNA Genotek President and CEO Ian Curry will host a press conference on Tuesday, July 29 at 2:45pm to discuss the conference demonstration and the future of pharmacogenomic diagnostics. Interested parties may contact Tricia Yowell,
tricia.yowell@paragondx.com, 919-653-3742 for details.
About ParagonDx
ParagonDx, located in Research Triangle Park, NC, is a leading provider of applied molecular diagnostic products. Initially a pioneer in the field of pharmacogenomics, ParagonDx has broadened its expertise into molecular diagnostic products. ParagonDx develops and markets reference controls for laboratory quality control and diagnostic kits that bring the promise of personalized medicine to physicians and patients. ParagonDx was the first company to bring FDA-cleared human genomic reference controls to the market. These products will enhance patient safety, improve patients' response to therapy and help realize the promise of personalized medicine. For additional information, please visit www.ParagonDx.com.
Four Other Companies Will Join ParagonDx in the Largest Genotyping
Exercise in Conference History
