Largest Middle East Personalized Medicine Study Begins in Saudi Arabia
Ottawa, Ontario (PRWEB) November 26, 2013 -- Spartan Bioscience today announced the start of a 2,000-patient study of personalized medicine for cardiac stent patients in Saudi Arabia. The study is sponsored by the University of Dammam, and is entitled “Bedside Testing of CYP2C19 Gene for Treatment of Patients with PCI with Antiplatelet Therapy.”
The Spartan RX CYP2C19 System is being used to test heart attack patients receiving cardiac stents. Carriers of CYP2C19 genetic mutations are receiving personalized antiplatelet therapy with Plavix® (clopidogrel) or alternative medications such as Effient® (prasugrel) and Brilinta® (ticagrelor).
The study director is Amein Al-Ali, Ph.D., and the principal investigator is Abdullah Al-Rubaish, M.D. Patients are being enrolled at Dammam Central Hospital, Prince Sultan Cardiac Center, King Fahd University Hospital, Saud Al-Babtain Cardiac Center, and King Fahd Military Medical Complex. The study is scheduled to finish in July 2015.
“Dr. Al-Rubaish and Dr. Al-Ali are visionaries, and we are delighted to work with them on the largest study of personalized medicine in the Middle East,” said Paul Lem, M.D., CEO of Spartan Bioscience.
About CYP2C19
The CYP2C19 enzyme metabolizes approximately 15 percent of all prescribed drugs(1), including important drug classes such as anti-platelet therapies, beta blockers, anti-depressants, proton pump inhibitors, and anti-epileptics. About 30% of Caucasians, 30% of Saudi Arabians, and more than 50% of Asians and Indians carry CYP2C19 gene variants that reduce response to drugs metabolized by CYP2C19.(2,3,4,5,6)
About Spartan Bioscience
Spartan Bioscience is the leader in on-demand DNA testing.(7) Spartan is bringing complete sample-to-result DNA testing systems to medicine. Spartan’s technology fully integrates DNA collection, extraction, and analysis, with an intuitive interface that is easy to operate. For the first time, healthcare providers and their patients can get DNA results on demand. For more information, please visit our website at: http://www.spartanbio.com.
The Spartan logo is a registered trademark of Spartan Bioscience Inc.
Plavix is a registered trademark of Bristol-Myers Squibb/Sanofi Pharmaceuticals.
Effient is a registered trademark of Eli Lilly and Company.
Brilinta is a registered trademark of AstraZeneca.
1. dbSNP Short Genetic Variations. Reference SNP (refSNP) Cluster Report: rs12248560
2. Damani SB, Topol EJ. (2010). J Am Coll Cardiol. 56:109–11.
3. Goldstein JA et al. (1997). Pharmacogenetics. 7(1): 59–64.
4. Chen M et al. (2011). Atherosclerosis. 220(1):168–71.
5. Oh IY et al. (2012). Heart. 98(2):139–44.
6. Jose R et al. (2004). Fundamental & Clinical Pharmacology. 19(1): 101–105.
7. Roberts JD et al. (2012). Lancet. 379:1705–11.
Kira Watson, Spartan Bioscience Inc., http://www.spartanbio.com, +1 613-228-7756 Ext: 708, [email protected]
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