Within weeks of the Supreme Court's historic decision declaring that human genes cannot be patented, two scientists have started a company that will democratize the human genome and give people direct access to their own genetic information – which can have an immediate impact on their health and well being.
Genome Liberty will work directly with consumers as well as doctors to offer a Gene-Drug Interaction Test. Here is how the test works:
A customer (1) orders the test on the Genome Liberty website; (2) receives a saliva-collection kit; (3) provides a saliva sample; and (4) mails the sample to Genome Liberty's certified medical lab, which extracts the DNA and tests it for the genetic variants corresponding to drug responses.
Customers receive a full report within two weeks to bring to their physician, outlining the medications that are recommended and discouraged, based upon an individual's specific genetic profile.
The test costs $99, provides information for a lifetime, and covers dozens of frequently prescribed drugs. It also looks for a condition known as Factor V Leiden that can cause dangerous blood clots when women who have this condition take estrogen, either for birth-control or hormone replacement. Many of these tests are encouraged by the FDA on the drug label, but they are not widely requested.
The test can also analyze the effectiveness of various drugs used to treat depression, bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. Oftentimes when individuals are diagnosed, doctors play a game of trial-and-error, trying out different combinations of drugs until they find an effective cocktail. Our test can eliminate the guesswork, telling patients and their doctors what drugs would best work with a patient's genetic code, making treatment safer, faster and easier.