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Making Their Move

Feb 11, 2010

The pharmacy-benefit managers Medco and CVS Caremark may soon take over the genetic testing business as they did the prescription business, says Technology Review. Medco bought up DNA Direct and CVS now has a larger stake in Generation Health. Tech Review says that Medco is targeting the gaps in physicians' and patients' knowledge — their pharmacists call up, offer a genetic test for the prescribed drug, and help interpret the results. "There is consumer demand right now," says Medco's chief medical officer, Robert Epstein. "People want to know — I've just been diagnosed with cancer, what tests do I need?"

Breaking News
The Scan

New Study Highlights Role of Genetics in ADHD

Researchers report in Nature Genetics on differences in genetic architecture between ADHD affecting children versus ADHD that persists into adulthood or is diagnosed in adults.

Study Highlights Pitfall of Large Gene Panels in Clinical Genomic Analysis

An analysis in Genetics in Medicine finds that as gene panels get larger, there is an increased chance of uncovering benign candidate variants.

Single-Cell Atlas of Drosophila Embryogenesis

A new paper in Science presents a single-cell atlas of fruit fly embryonic development over time.

Phage Cocktail Holds Promise for IBD

Researchers uncovered a combination phage therapy that targets Klebsiella pneumonia strains among individuals experiencing inflammatory bowel disease flare ups, as they report in Cell.