Medco: pharmacy-based approach increases genetic testing

Researchers from pharmacy benefit manager Medco Health Solutions Inc. (NYSE:MHS) reported data from a study evaluating the effect of a pharmacy-based approach to encourage the adoption of pharmacogenomic testing. Medco said physicians have been slow to adopt genetic testing as part of routine practice. Medco said its pharmacogenetic testing program increased the use of testing by 44.9 and 6.9-times in patients receiving warfarin and tamoxifen, respectively, compared to pre-program benchmarks. The program identified patients eligible for testing, coordinated the collection of samples and communicated results to physicians. Data were presented at the American Society for Human Genetics meeting in Bethesda, Md. ...