The Burrill Report


Medco Health Solutions, America's second-largest health benefits manager, will expand its push for gene testing in July with hopes of better matching medications to patients, driving down client costs, and building its own genetic testing business.

Medco, which already uses genetic testing to help guide usage of the blood thinner warfarin and the breast cancer drug tamoxifen, in February acquired the San Francisco-based genetic testing company DNA Direct. Now the company will expand its testing program to include the usage of the widely-prescribed blood thinner, Plavix, the HIV drugs Selzentry and Ziagen, and the use of Gleevec for patients being treated for chronic myelogenous leukemia.

Additionally, the company will counsel its clients for which genetic tests they should pay, and its member patients and their doctors about a variety of genetic and diagnostic tests including pharmacogenomic, fertility, and pre-natal testing, it says.

“Our clients are taking a more integrated view about healthcare and the impact of medications and diagnostics on overall patient outcomes,” says Jane Barlow, vice president of Medco’s genetic testing unit, Precision Health Solutions.
“Medco’s strengths in pharmacy care and its leadership in bringing personalized medicine into mainstream practice will allow us to help patients get more precise healthcare that will improve their outcomes, as well as help health plans lower their costs.”

Medco, which is based in Franklin Lakes, New Jersey, already has 220 clients representing more than ten million members enrolled in its personalized medicine program. It plans to offer its expanded services to other employers, health and benefits plans.

Medco competitor CVS Caremark is planning to roll out its own personalized medicine program, featuring genetic testing for Herceptin and Plavix patients.



May 21, 2010
http://www.burrillreport.com/article-medco_gets_personal.html