Pune lab introduces test for better drug delivery

Acton Biotech India Pvt Ltd, a Pune-based laboratory in the field of genetics launched a blood test recently to detect a particular enzyme type in blood that can help in saving patients from drug resistance or severe deterioration.

The test determines who will benefit from the drug and who will not. Thus, if a patient is not going to benefit from the drug, s/he can be given a different drug or a higher dose of the same drug.

“So far, the pharma industry has followed a ‘one-size-fits-all’ model. Most patients would benefit, but some would not. Such tests can help in speedy recovery and saving costs,” said Sandeep Saxena, founder and chief executive officer of Acton Biotech.

Saxena told DNA that the test is recommended to those who are on clopidogrel anti-platelet therapy or have been recommended this medication.

He said this is the first blood test to be launched in India to detect patients who can benefit from this drug.

Clopidogrel is an oral anti-platelet drug that is used to prevent blood clots and is especially given to patients who have undergone cardiac surgeries or experienced stroke.

It has been noticed that around 30% of patients who are on this medication do not get the desired results. This further deteriorates their condition leading to a severe stent thrombosis (blood clotting).

Saxena said that although Clopidogrel is mainly given to patients to curb the relapse of the cardiac event or stroke, only 70% respond well to this drug.

Also, it has been noticed that surgeries and medications in patients have increased in recent times, but it is not necessary that the particular drug will prove beneficial. Not many patients have the required enzyme to adjust to the drug.

The common side effects of this drug include abdominal pain, indigestion, constipation, dizziness, skin rashes or itching, blackened stools (in rare cases) and tiredness that are known, said Saxena.

Dr Anand Alurkar, interventional cardiologist at King Edward Memorial hospital (KEM), said there are cases of drug resistance in patients who are put on this anti-platelet drug, but then this can be avoided.

“In stroke victims we generally use this drug, but we have seen cases where it has failed to give desired results. This blood test developed by Acton helps in identifying the right patient who can use this drug. This will save the person from relapse and mortality as well,” said Alurkar.