Diagnostic Products/Testing Services Licensed to Gentris

Under the terms of the agreement, Gentris has obtained the rights to make, use, and sell diagnostic products and services, including testing for the CYPD2D6*4 polymorphism, in the United States. LCG is the exclusive licensor of this gene variation on behalf of Dundee University (Dundee, UK).

The CYPD2D6 gene controls an enzyme in the liver, and patients with the *4 variant of the gene are poor metabolizers of about 29% of medications prescribed, including pain killers, anti-depressants, analgesics, and cardiovascular drugs. Adverse drug reactions (ADRs) to these medications are responsible for a significant amount of morbidity and mortality in the population. Commercialization of the CYPD2D6*4 testing services should improve the quality and efficiency of the drugs and ultimately patient care.

"The value of testing for key genetic markers associated with poor metabolism of medications has now become internationally accepted as a way to prevent adverse drug reactions in individuals and to identify those at risk of side-effects,” said Dr. Paul Debenham, director of life sciences at LGC. "Today's advances in medical-based science and technology have generated DNA-based test technologies with the potential to shape future care for us all.”

The licensing agreement with LCG coincides with the recent release of Gentris' proprietary human genomic DNA reference controls for the CYPD2D6 gene.



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Dundee University