Human BioMolecular Research Institute/SEQUENOM Inc. Scientists Discover Differences of Key Human Drug Metabolizing Enzyme.Business Editors and Health/Medical Writers BIOWIRE2K SAN DIEGO--(BW HealthWire)--Dec. 19, 2001 Researchers Suspect New Clues About Human Drug Metabolism Drug Metabolism/Interactions Definition Drug metabolism is the process by which the body breaks down and converts medication into active chemical substances. Precautions Drugs can interact with other drugs, foods, and beverages. May Reveal Insights Into Adverse Drug Reactions adverse drug reaction, n a detrimental outcome from a drug. Two types of ADRs exist: Type 1 results from dosage mismatch and Type 2 from rare conditions often as a consequence of a small dose. See also risk or sensitive type. Human BioMolecular Research Institute (HBRI), a leading non-profit research institute, announced today that its study conducted jointly with SEQUENOM(TM) Inc. (Nasdaq:SQNM), a discovery genetics company, has been reported in the December issue of Drug Metabolism and Disposition. Findings link a defective human enzyme, flavin-containing monooxygenase (form 3), to the abnormal metabolism of chemicals and drugs. These findings elucidate important clues to the mechanism of population differences in the susceptibility to abnormal metabolism or adverse drug reactions for chemicals metabolized by the flavin-containing monooxygenase (form 3) (FMO FMO For Members Only FMO Flavin-Containing Monooxygenase FMO Financierings-Maatschappij voor Ontwikkelingslanden (Dutch: Netherlands Development Finance Company) FMO Fire Management Officer (National Park Service) 3), according to John Cashman, Ph.D., HBRI Director and lead author of the publication and Jun Zhang, Ph.D. of HBRI. Research findings were reported by investigators of Human BioMolecular Research Institute and Andreas Braun, M.D., Ph.D. and James Leushner, Ph.D. from SEQUENOM using MassARRAY(TM) technology. FMO3 is a key human drug and chemical metabolizing enzyme that influences the biotransformation biotransformation /bio·trans·for·ma·tion/ (-trans?for-ma´shun) the series of chemical alterations of a compound (e.g., a drug) occurring within the body, as by enzymatic activity. and disposition of many drugs and chemicals. Although FMOs have been studied for more than 35 years, the molecular basis for its variable action remain elusive. The report shows that a considerable amount of enzyme variability is due to genetic differences. "This paper provides important new information on genetic polymorphisms in various ethnic groups in expression of a drug metabolizing enzyme in human liver," said David E. Williams, Ph.D., Professor of Environmental and Molecular Toxicology at Oregon State University Oregon State University, at Corvallis; land-grant and state supported; coeducational; chartered 1858 as Corvallis College, opened 1865. In 1868 it was designated Oregon's land-grant agricultural college and was taken over completely by the state in 1885. . "The benefits of this study are that it soon may be possible to rapidly screen individuals genetically and determine which FMOs they express in order to optimize therapeutic dosages of drugs for the FMO that plays a major role in metabolism." The study was funded in part by the National Institute of General Medical Sciences The U.S. National Institute of General Medical Sciences is one of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the principal biomedical research agency of the Federal Government. of the National Institutes of Health and the University of California The University of California has a combined student body of more than 191,000 students, over 1,340,000 living alumni, and a combined systemwide and campus endowment of just over $7.3 billion (8th largest in the United States). Tobacco-Related Disease Research Program and expanded previous studies suggesting that variable metabolism of dietary amines amines (  mēnz´),n.pl organic compounds that contain nitrogen. was a function of differences in genetics of human genes. This study shows the role of genetic variation of FMO3 in different populations. About HBRI: The Human BioMolecular Research Institute is a non-profit research institute conducting basic research focused on unlocking biological and chemical principles related to diseases of the human brain. The institute conducts fundamental studies of central nervous system disorders Nervous system disorders A satisfactory classification of diseases of the nervous system should include not only the type of reaction (congenital malformation, infection, trauma, neoplasm, vascular diseases, and degenerative, metabolic, toxic, or deficiency and translates findings into new drug development to address human illness. In addition, the institute promotes scientific learning through community service and public access by disseminating information and sharing research with collaborators, colleagues and the public. For more information, visit www.HBRI.org. About SEQUENOM: SEQUENOM is a discovery genetics company with the tools, information and strategies for determining the medical impact of genes. Utilizing a novel population genetics Population genetics The study of both experimental and theoretical consequences of mendelian heredity on the population level, in contradistinction to classical genetics which deals with the offspring of specified parents on the familial level. approach, SEQUENOM is systematically identifying potential disease-related genes that affect significant portions of the overall population. This approach is possible due to the pinpoint accuracy and unique specificity of the Company's MassARRAY system. By focusing on disease genes with a broad population impact, SEQUENOM expects to play an important role in bringing new therapeutic products to the market while maximizing the return on drug development. |
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