Boston Heart Diagnostics Introduces StatinSmart™
Boston Heart Diagnostics ("Boston Heart"), a subsidiary of Eurofins Scientific (EUFI.PA), the global leader in bio-analytical testing, and one of the world leaders in genomic services, announces the launch ofStatinSmart™, the first and only at-home saliva laboratory developed test that analyzes the SLCO1B1 (Solute Carrier Organic Anion Transporter 1B1) gene for a variant known to increase an individual's risk for developing statin induced myopathy - the onset of muscle aches, spasms and pain associated with statin therapy. StatinSmart™ helps patients understand how their bodies will process a statin and encourages them to discuss with their healthcare provider the type of statin that is best suited to their genotype. With this information, patients can work with their healthcare provider to personalize a plan to lower cholesterol without unnecessary side effects.
Boston Heart currently offers the SLCO1B1 genotype test through healthcare providers, but this is the first time this laboratory developed test will be offered directly to individuals online at statinsmart.com. All orders require physician authorization and include support for individuals to discuss their genotype result with their personal healthcare provider.
SLCO1B1 is one of the genes that instruct the enzymes that process statins in the liver1-4. The SLCO1B1 genotype was identified at the University of Oxford in the UK. Boston Heart holds the exclusive U.S. license for the SLCO1B1 genotype test. To date, Boston Heart has performed over 250,000 SLCO1B1 genotype tests.
Although statins have been shown to significantly lower heart disease and stroke rates, studies estimate that of the 25-50% of patients with cardiovascular disease who stop taking their statin medications as directed, 60% cite muscle pain as the primary reason for discontinuation. A variant in the SLCO1B1 gene can cause the statin to not be fully processed, with the excess statin then moving through the blood stream into the muscles and causing pain. About 25% of the population has one or both variants, making them up to 4.5 to 17 times more likely to suffer muscle aches and pain3.
In a survey of individuals who have experienced side effects from statins in the past and have stopped taking them, 89% would consider taking statins again if they could potentially reduce the side effects5. Research6 shows that patients who received SLCO1B1 genotype-guided therapy were more likely to fill their statin prescription, take the medication as directed, and ultimately lower their LDL cholesterol7.
Comment from Susan Hertzberg, CEO of Boston Heart: "We're excited to bring our SLCO1B1 test directly to the consumer. Personalized medicine should be a critical piece of the process for managing cardiovascular disease - one in four people have risk of muscle pain on a statin, and this is the only commercially available genetic test to identify a patient's likelihood of experiencing this side effect. We know that patients are struggling with managing the side effects of statin medications, andStatinSmart™can help guide patients and their healthcare providers in selecting a treatment plan to lower cholesterol without suffering through the trial-and-error process of painful side effects."