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Could the key to quitting lie in the genes? A pragmatic clinical evaluation of the NicoTest in primary care
Lisa Miles, Projects Manager, g-Nostics Ltd
Abstract
A multitude of medical products are available to equip medical professionals when supporting smokers in their cessation attempts. However, individuals can react differently to any single drug and much of this unpredictability is due to individual genetic variation. Individual responses to drugs constitute a substantial clinical problem since the medical professional may need to try several medicines on a patient before they find one which is suitable.
Simple, decisive genetic testing of individual patients to guide treatment choices is referred to as pharmacogenetics. Pharmacogenetics has the potential to address patient-centred problems and revolutionise drug prescribing. Through provision of an advance indication of which drug and dosage would be best for the specific patient, taking into account their individual metabolic idiosyncrasies, Pharmacogenetics has the potential to offer significant cost savings from avoided adverse reactions and ineffective treatments. There is also a considerable cost to the patient of receiving ineffective or poorly-tolerated drugs.
The NicoTest, one of the first point-of-care personalised testing platforms, combines genetic, biochemical and biometric data into a computerised expert algorithm to support clinical decision making through generation of a personalised treatment recommendation. Through introducing a new language of "probability" to medical care, The NicoTest has the potential to offer a low-cost, high-reach solution to improving quit rates.
A 12-month study is underway to assess the clinical utility and cost-effectiveness of the NicoTest in augmenting the NHS Stop Smoking Services both in primary care and in workplaces. Indicative data from this study will be presented at the meeting.
Biography
The presenting author - Lisa Jane Miles - holds a B.Sc in biochemistry, an M.Sc in boichemical pharmacology and a D.Phil. in Human Molecular Genetics, having been based at the Wellcome Trust Centre for Human genetics, University of Oxford. An effective and compelling public speaker, she has presented data at several conferences (publications in press), at a plenary session of an osteoporosis conference, and has a strong presence in the genetics research community. Dr Miles is mentored by the Head of the MRC Genetics Unit and other eminent clinician scientists are her scientific advisors. g-Nostics is a spin-out organisation from the University of Oxford following research conducted by the GP Research Group. With the focus on personalised medicine, g-Nostics aims to translate scientific findings "from bench to bedside" to improve public health and delivery of NHS services.
Lisa J Miles
g-Nostics
68J Milton Park
Didcot, Oxfordshire
OX14 4RX
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