“Medicine is no longer ‘one dose fits all’. By analysing DNA, it’s possible to understand how different genotypes affect the metabolism of medication in the body,” explains Dr Daniel Meyersfeld, molecular biologist and founder of DNAlysis Biotechnology. “With these scientific insights, medical practitioners can pre-emptively optimise medications for their patient and see better results by avoiding a ‘trial-and-error’ approach to drug prescription.”
Meyersfeld adds there’s a lack of awareness about genetic testing in South Africa – how it’s conducted, and the science behind it. This has prevented many South Africans from exploring genetic testing to enhance their own healthcare – and that of their loved ones.
“In SA, there’s a misconception that genetic testing is hugely expensive and invasive, which simply isn’t the truth. There’s also a fear of genetic information falling into the wrong hands – being used by insurance companies to determine risk, for example,” says Meyersfeld.
Areas of particular focus include cardiovascular disease, psychiatry and pain management, as these clusters are frequently prescribed as chronic medications.
Clopidogrel, as an example, is the standard treatment to stop blood clotting, heart attacks or strokes after coronary stent surgery – but studies show 2-14% of the population don’t metabolise the medication adequately, which can leave them vulnerable. Widely used blood-thinner Warfarin is also known to vary in effectiveness from patient to patient, which makes dosing problematic for medical practitioners.
“Currently, drugs are prescribed to meet the needs of the general population – not the individual. Now, we can analyse our DNA to understand how each of us processes medication in the body, and to flag medications with more extreme side effects for individuals,” says Meyersfeld.
“We’re in the information age on steroids. There’s nothing we can’t know these days. So why do we know so little about our own DNA? It’s the roadmap for how our bodies work, so it makes sense for individuals – and their medical practitioners – to understand everything about their unique genetics, so they can access more informed, more effective medical treatment,” concludes Meyersfeld.
