14 Jul Proove Biosciences Introduces Genetic Tests To Complement Pain and Thromboembolism Care

Brian Meshkin

MedicalResearch.com Interview with:
Brian Meshkin
Founder and CEO of Proove Biosciences

Editor’s note: Proove Biosciences, Inc introduced three new evidence-based tests to support better clinical decision-making for difficult-to-treat conditions that are influenced by genetics. These conditions include substance abuse, fibromyalgia and venous thromboembolism. The tests are especially relevant in light of the House of Representatives passing the Comprehensive Addiction Recovery Act (CARA) bill on July 8, 2016 to combat the opioid epidemic.

MedicalResearch.com: Would you update our readers on the significance and implications of the CARA Act? What is the role of genetics in addiction? What is the background for the Proove Addiction™ Profile? How does it aid in addiction management?

Response: CARA is a national piece of legislation to expand access to treatment for drug overdoses and addiction. It also includes some other provisions meant to help address the opioid epidemic. However, there are some serious implications.

First, it does not contain any funding, so it is a bit of a “Potemkin Village”. It is also a bit of a façade because it does not address 50% of the equation. According to the definition of addiction from the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) and the National Institutes of Drug Abuse (NIDA), about half of substance abuse is due to genetic factors. If you are studying for a test and ignoring half of the material, chances are you are not going to do well on the test. As doctors are confronted with the challenges of objectively assessing pain and knowing which patients are at risk for abuse, they must consider genetics.

The Proove Opioid Risk test combines genetic markers and phenotypic variables into an algorithm to effectively identify patients at low, moderate and high risk for opioid abuse. By knowing this information, a physician can make better decisions about opioids. For low risk patients, a physician can safely prescribe and a patient does not need to fear the opioid prescription they are given – as this is about 50% of the population. For those at moderate risk, a physician can use a greater level of vigilance to monitor those patients with abuse-deterrent formulations, regular urine drug screens, opioid contracts, and other tools to monitor their use. For the small number of patients – less than 10% – that are at high risk, a physician can use alternative forms of pain relief such as interventional procedures or non-opioid analgesics to provide the needed relief to patients.

The Proove Addiction Profile builds on this commitment, by providing genetic data points related to other disorders, such as addictions to alcohol, heroin, cocaine and others. Unfortunately, many patients who screen positive for aberrant behavior, such as having an illicit drug in their urine, are often discharged from care by their doctor. This just gets them lost in the system. By running the Proove Addiction Profile in addition to a urine drug screen, a doctor can better understand the genetic factors associated with the aberrant behavior and refer the troubled patient to an addiction specialist for treatment.

MedicalResearch.com: Can you briefly explain what is meant by fibromyalgia? How does the Proove Fibromyalgia™ Profile identify genetic factors that may customization personalized treatment?

Response: With our expertise in the genetics of pain perception, chronic pain risk, and pain treatments, we have recently launched Proove Fibromyalgia profile. Fibromyalgia is a disorder involving widespread pain along with fatigue, sleeplessness, mental health concerns, and other stress-related concerns. It is often a “default” diagnosis when a doctor or patient cannot figure out what is wrong with a patient. We believe there are several types of fibromyalgia and certain underlying clinical pathways. Those different pathways can be better understood by looking at genetic variables. This test provides genetic data points around those underlying pathways that can then guide which treatments to choose.

MedicalResearch.com: How does the Proove Thromboembolism™ Profile provide clinically actionable recommendations for prophylactic treatment after surgery?

Response: Based on assessing the genetic risk profile of thromboembolism, this profile provides clinicians with a genetic data point to consider. The recommendations based on risk, in this profile, are based on recommendations from the most recent guidelines published by the American College of Chest Physicians.

MedicalResearch.com: Thank you for your contribution to the MedicalResearch.com community.

Background:

Brian Meshkin, founder and CEO of Proove Biosciences, is a 20-year veteran in the field of pharmaceuticals and molecular diagnostics, with a focus on personalized medicine.
Prior to Proove Biosciences, Meshkin founded Salugen, a nutritional genetics company. He also led new product planning and marketing for Prometheus Laboratories, managed eBusiness for the largest product at Johnson & Johnson and was a team leader of corporate venture capital at Eli Lilly & Company’s Venture Fund. A community activist, Meshkin led a student effort when he was 13 years of age to pass the nation’s first bicycle helmet law for children under 16 years of age in 1990 in Howard County, Maryland, and 300 similar laws nationwide.

Proove Biosciences

About Proove Biosciences: Proove Biosciences—the Healthcare Decision Company™—is the commercial and educational leader in the research, investigation and development of patent-protected tests that combine genetic and clinical data into reports to help physicians to individualize—and optimize—medicine selection and dosing. Supported by leading medical experts and institutions across the globe, the reports facilitate objective decision-making to improve outcomes for patients, providers and insurers

Note: Content is Not intended as medical advice. Please consult your health care provider regarding your specific medical condition and questions.

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Last Updated on July 14, 2016 by Marie Benz MD FAAD