Pathway Genomics
Encyclopedia
Pathway Genomics is a privately held personal genomics
company based in San Diego, California
. Using DNA
genetic testing
technologies, the company conducts services to generate personalized reports about an individual’s carrier status
, drug (medication) response
, propensity for the development of certain complex diseases, as well as ancestral history. The company provides these personal genetic reports to physicians and their patients. Pathway Genomics owns and operates a federally CLIA (Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments) certified and California state-licensed on-site laboratory. According to its website, Pathway Genomics reports on a number of health conditions including Alzheimer’s disease, type 1 and type 2 diabetes, hypertension
, asthma
, rheumatoid arthritis
, cystic fibrosis
and beta thalassaemia, as well as screens for drug responses for such medications as Plavix and warfarin
(Coumadin
). The company has registered its saliva collection kit with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as a Class I 510(K) Exempt medical device.
, and risk-management service
industries. Pathway Genomics’ scientific team is led by David Becker, Ph.D., Chief Scientific Officer. Dr. Becker is most notably recognized for his contribution to Alzheimer’s disease research
. During his time working at Torrey Pines Therapeutics, Dr. Becker and his team worked with Rudolph Tanzi, Ph.D.
, of Massachusetts General Hospital
and Harvard Medical School
in the discovery and validation of genes
that contribute to the pathogenesis
of Alzheimer’s disease.
Single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP)
Genetic carrier
Complex disease
Pharmacogenomics
Genetic counseling
Genomic counseling
Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA)
Personal genomics
Personal genomics is the branch of genomics concerned with the sequencing and analysis of the genome of an individual. The genotyping stage employs different techniques, including single-nucleotide polymorphism analysis chips , or partial or full genome sequencing...
company based in San Diego, California
San Diego, California
San Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States and second-largest city in California. The city is located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, immediately adjacent to the Mexican border. The birthplace of California, San Diego is known for its mild year-round...
. Using DNA
DNA
Deoxyribonucleic acid is a nucleic acid that contains the genetic instructions used in the development and functioning of all known living organisms . The DNA segments that carry this genetic information are called genes, but other DNA sequences have structural purposes, or are involved in...
genetic testing
Genetic testing
Genetic testing is among the newest and most sophisticated of techniques used to test for genetic disorders which involves direct examination of the DNA molecule itself. Other genetic tests include biochemical tests for such gene products as enzymes and other proteins and for microscopic...
technologies, the company conducts services to generate personalized reports about an individual’s carrier status
Genetic carrier
A genetic carrier , is a person or other organism that has inherited a genetic trait or mutation, but who does not display that trait or show symptoms of the disease. They are, however, able to pass the gene onto their offspring, who may then express the gene...
, drug (medication) response
Adverse drug reaction
An adverse drug reaction is an expression that describes harm associated with the use of given medications at a normal dosage. ADRs may occur following a single dose or prolonged administration of a drug or result from the combination of two or more drugs...
, propensity for the development of certain complex diseases, as well as ancestral history. The company provides these personal genetic reports to physicians and their patients. Pathway Genomics owns and operates a federally CLIA (Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments) certified and California state-licensed on-site laboratory. According to its website, Pathway Genomics reports on a number of health conditions including Alzheimer’s disease, type 1 and type 2 diabetes, hypertension
Hypertension
Hypertension or high blood pressure is a cardiac chronic medical condition in which the systemic arterial blood pressure is elevated. What that means is that the heart is having to work harder than it should to pump the blood around the body. Blood pressure involves two measurements, systolic and...
, asthma
Asthma
Asthma is the common chronic inflammatory disease of the airways characterized by variable and recurring symptoms, reversible airflow obstruction, and bronchospasm. Symptoms include wheezing, coughing, chest tightness, and shortness of breath...
, rheumatoid arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic, systemic inflammatory disorder that may affect many tissues and organs, but principally attacks synovial joints. The process produces an inflammatory response of the synovium secondary to hyperplasia of synovial cells, excess synovial fluid, and the development...
, cystic fibrosis
Cystic fibrosis
Cystic fibrosis is a recessive genetic disease affecting most critically the lungs, and also the pancreas, liver, and intestine...
and beta thalassaemia, as well as screens for drug responses for such medications as Plavix and warfarin
Warfarin
Warfarin is an anticoagulant. It is most likely to be the drug popularly referred to as a "blood thinner," yet this is a misnomer, since it does not affect the thickness or viscosity of blood...
(Coumadin
Coumadin
*For the rodenticide class of anticoagulant poisons sometimes loosely referred to as coumadins or coumarins, see 4-hydroxycoumarins.*For the pharmaceutical with the trade name Coumadin, see warfarin....
). The company has registered its saliva collection kit with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as a Class I 510(K) Exempt medical device.
History
Pathway Genomics was founded in 2008 by Jim Plante, an entrepreneur in the industries of technology and preventive healthcare. Mr. Plante founded four other venture capital-supported technology companies and he is responsible for launching new product lines and services in the consumer products, automotive, wirelessWireless
Wireless telecommunications is the transfer of information between two or more points that are not physically connected. Distances can be short, such as a few meters for television remote control, or as far as thousands or even millions of kilometers for deep-space radio communications...
, and risk-management service
Risk management
Risk management is the identification, assessment, and prioritization of risks followed by coordinated and economical application of resources to minimize, monitor, and control the probability and/or impact of unfortunate events or to maximize the realization of opportunities...
industries. Pathway Genomics’ scientific team is led by David Becker, Ph.D., Chief Scientific Officer. Dr. Becker is most notably recognized for his contribution to Alzheimer’s disease research
Alzheimer's disease clinical research
As of August 2010 there were more than 800 clinical trials under way to understand and treat Alzheimer's disease. 149 of these studies were human phase three trials, the last step before U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval and marketing....
. During his time working at Torrey Pines Therapeutics, Dr. Becker and his team worked with Rudolph Tanzi, Ph.D.
Potamkin Prize
The Potamkin Prize for Research in Pick's, Alzheimer's, and Related Diseases was established in 1988 and is sponsored by the American Academy of Neurology. The prize is funded through the philanthropy of the Potamkin Foundation...
, of Massachusetts General Hospital
Massachusetts General Hospital
Massachusetts General Hospital is a teaching hospital and biomedical research facility in the West End neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts...
and Harvard Medical School
Harvard Medical School
Harvard Medical School is the graduate medical school of Harvard University. It is located in the Longwood Medical Area of the Mission Hill neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts....
in the discovery and validation of genes
Gênes
Gênes is the name of a département of the First French Empire in present Italy, named after the city of Genoa. It was formed in 1805, when Napoleon Bonaparte occupied the Republic of Genoa. Its capital was Genoa, and it was divided in the arrondissements of Genoa, Bobbio, Novi Ligure, Tortona and...
that contribute to the pathogenesis
Pathogenesis
The pathogenesis of a disease is the mechanism by which the disease is caused. The term can also be used to describe the origin and development of the disease and whether it is acute, chronic or recurrent...
of Alzheimer’s disease.
See also
Genetic testingGenetic testing
Genetic testing is among the newest and most sophisticated of techniques used to test for genetic disorders which involves direct examination of the DNA molecule itself. Other genetic tests include biochemical tests for such gene products as enzymes and other proteins and for microscopic...
Single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP)
Genetic carrier
Genetic carrier
A genetic carrier , is a person or other organism that has inherited a genetic trait or mutation, but who does not display that trait or show symptoms of the disease. They are, however, able to pass the gene onto their offspring, who may then express the gene...
Complex disease
Pharmacogenomics
Pharmacogenomics
Pharmacogenomics is the branch of pharmacology which deals with the influence of genetic variation on drug response in patients by correlating gene expression or single-nucleotide polymorphisms with a drug's efficacy or toxicity...
Genetic counseling
Genetic counseling
Genetic counseling or traveling is the process by which patients or relatives, at risk of an inherited disorder, are advised of the consequences and nature of the disorder, the probability of developing or transmitting it, and the options open to them in management and family planning...
Genomic counseling
Genomic counseling
Genomic counseling is the process by which a person gets informed about his or her genome. In contrast to genetic counseling, which focuses on Mendelian diseases and typically involves person-to-person communication with a medical genetics expert, genomic counseling is not limited to currently...
Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA)
Further reading
- Alberg AJ, Ford JG, Samet JM; American College of Chest Physicians. “Epidemiology of lung cancer: ACCP evidence-based clinical practice guidelines (2nd edition).” Chest. 2007 Sep;132(3 Suppl):29S-55S. (PMID 17873159)
- Bertram L, Tanzi RE. “Thirty years of Alzheimer's disease genetics: the implications of systematic meta-analyses.” Nature Reviews: Neuroscience. 2008 Oct;9(10):768-78. (PMID 18802446)
- Bu G. “Apolipoprotein E and its receptors in Alzheimer's disease: pathways, pathogenesis and therapy.” Nature Reviews: Neuroscience. 2009 May;10(5):333-44. Epub 2 April 2009. ( PMID 19339974)
- Carlsson C, Nilbert M. “Living with hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer; experiences from and impact of genetic testing.” Journal of Genetic Counseling. 2007 Dec;16(6):811-20. Epub 18 August 2007. (PMID 17705030)
- Coyle YM. “Lifestyle, genes, and cancer.” Methods in Molecular Biology. 2009;472:25-56. (PMID 19107428)
- Epstein RS, Moyer TP, Aubert RE, O'Kane DJ, Xia F, Verbrugge RR, Gage BF, Teagarden JR. “Warfarin Genotyping Reduces Hospitalization Rates Results From the MM-WES (Medco-Mayo Warfarin Effectiveness Study).” Journal of the American College of Cardiology. 7 April 2010. [Epub ahead of print] (PMID 20381283)
- Green RC, Roberts JS, Cupples LA, Relkin NR, Whitehouse PJ, Brown T, Eckert SL, Butson M, Sadovnick AD, Quaid KA, Chen C, Cook-Deegan R, Farrer LA. REVEAL Study Group; “Disclosure of APOE genotype for risk of Alzheimer's disease.” The New England Journal of Medicine. 2009; 361: 245–54. (PMID 19605829)
- Heshka JT, Palleschi C, Howley H. et al. “A systematic review of perceived risks, psychological and behavioral impacts of genetic testing.” Genetics in Medicine. 2008; 10(1): 19–32. (PMID 18197053)
- Low CA, Bower JE, Kwan L, Seldon J. “Benefit finding in response to BRCA1/2 testing.” Annals of Behavioral Medicine. 2008 Feb;35(1):61-9. Epub 15 February 2008. (PMID 18347905)
- McBride CM, Koehly LM, Sanderson SC, Kaphingst KA. “The behavioral response to personalized genetic information: will genetic risk profiles motivate individuals and families to choose more healthful behaviors?” Annual Review of Public Health. 21 April 2010;31:89-103. (PMID 20070198)
- Rief W, Conradt M, Dierk JM, Rauh E, Schlumberger P, Hinney A, Hebebrand J. “Is information on genetic determinants of obesity helpful or harmful for obese people?--A randomized clinical trial.” Journal of General Internal Medicine. 2007 Nov;22(11):1553-9. Epub 19 September 2007. (PMID 17879121)
- Scarmeas N, Luchsinger JA, Schupf N, Brickman AM, Cosentino S, Tang MX, Stern Y. “Physical activity, diet, and risk of Alzheimer disease.” Journal of the American Medical Association. 12 August 2009;302(6):627-37. (PMID 19671904)
- Scheuner MT, Sieverding P, Shekelle PG. “Delivery of genomic medicine for common chronic adult diseases a systematic review.” Journal of the American Medical Association. 2008;299:1320–1334. (PMID 18349093)
- Taylor DH Jr, Cook-Deegan RM, Hiraki S, Roberts JS, Blazer DG, Green RC. “Genetic testing for Alzheimer's and long-term care insurance.” Health Affairs (Project Hope). 2010 Jan-Feb;29(1):102-8. (PMID 20048367)
- Tuomilehto J, Lindström J, Eriksson JG, Valle TT, Hämäläinen H, Ilanne-Parikka P, Keinänen-Kiukaanniemi S, Laakso M, Louheranta A, Rastas M, Salminen V, Uusitupa M; Finnish Diabetes Prevention Study Group. “Prevention of type 2 diabetes mellitus by changes in lifestyle among subjects with impaired glucose tolerance.” The New England Journal of Medicine. 3 May 2001;344(18):1343-50. ( PMID 11333990)