An Innovative Software Solution for Personalized Pharmacotherapy

Abstract

Drug-drug and drug-gene interactions are an important issue in healthcare. In the USA, in 1994-1995, it was estimated that there were approximately 2 million severe adverse drug reactions resulting in 76,000-137,000 deaths. A more recent study published in 2004 shows that 5% of hospital admissions in the UK are directly attributable to adverse drug reactions. Moreover, adverse drug reactions in the USA contribute to significant hospital costs of between US$1.5 and 4 billion per year. Drug metabolism is one determinant of how our bodies respond to drugs. Polymorphisms of the six major cytochrome drug metabolizing genes can lead to either poor metabolism of drugs, hence, increasing probability of toxic reactions, or enhanced metabolism leading to decreased efficacy; with opposite affects for prodrugs. Also, there are the potentially increased costs due to wastage, lack of therapeutic response, repeat doctor visits and poor patient compliance. In addition, when multiple drugs are co-administered some may act as enzyme inducers or enzyme inhibitors further complicating expected drug responses. Considering today's polypharmacy, the number of over-the-counter drugs used, environmental exotoxins, which may inhibit or induce drug metabolism (cigarette smoke), nutrients and other foods, the combination of possibilities of cytochrome P450 interactions and drug-drug interactions affecting a patient response to therapy is overwhelming. A dedicated pharmaceutical decision support software solution, designed to be intuitive, informative and provide ease of use, would greatly increase the probabilities that patients could receive much more individualized treatment. The Rx Factor, through proprietary algorithms, provides the clinician with a dosage modification recommendation for all major substrate medications being prescribed or taken, by an individual.