Medco Buys DNA Direct, Adding Genetic Testing Guidance and Decision Support Capacity
Executive Summary
During the past three years, Medco Health Solutions Inc. has focused its emerging personalized medicine business around pharmacogenomics--drug-related genetic testing. With the acquisition of privately held DNA Direct Inc., announced February 2, the pharmacy benefits manager is now branching out to include guidance and support for payors, providers, and patients to help ensure the appropriate use of the more than 2,000 currently marketed genetic and molecular diagnostic tests.
You may also be interested in...
deCODE Re-Emerges: Can a Genomics Platform Model Work in Diagnostics?
deCODE Genetics has emerged from bankruptcy with a streamlined, diagnostics-oriented business model. In the near term, the privately held firm expects to offer its genomics discovery capabilities on a service basis, echoing the original genomics platform specialists of the late 1990s, including deCODE itself, which did largely unsuccessful technology deals focused on using genetic insight to generate therapies. The difference? It is now using genetic information to assess disease risk and better manage patient health, a strategy it thinks will succeed as the field of personalized medicine diagnostics continues to gain traction.
PBM Power Behind Pharmacogenomics: CVS Caremark Launching Program
CVS Caremark is expanding its commitment to pharmacogenomics with a new clinical and testing services program being developed in collaboration with newly-formed Generation Health, which describes itself as a genetic benefits management company
Medco "Genetics For Generics" Research Anticipates Plavix Patent Loss
Medco is working to generate cost effectiveness data for Bristol-Myers Squibb's anti-clotting blockbuster Plavix in anticipation of the launch of clopidogrel generics in 2011