Myriad Genetics last week launched TheraGuide 5-FU, a DNA-based test to help predict which cancer patients are likely to have adverse reactions to the drug 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) or the oral form of the drug, capecitabine. The test costs $1,100 and includes DNA sequence analysis of the DPYD and TYMS genes, which increase a patient's risk for toxicity to 5-FU chemotherapy.
Myriad said that around one third of all patients given 5-FU will experience severe to life-threatening, dose-limiting toxicity. “The majority of these toxic reactions are due to genetic variations in the DPYD and TYMS genes,” the company said.
Milford Medical Laboratory has released a DNA sequencing-based test for human papillomavirus and other sexually transmitted diseases that the company said eliminates the false positive test results associated with other methods. The test is based on the company’s LoTemp PCR amplification technology and compares a “signature sequence” from the test sample against Genbank in order to accurately identify the causative agent. The company said that its test can identify HPV genotypes that are not targeted for detection by Digene’s HC2 assay.