Genetic data analysis and database tools

Abstract

A computerized tool and method for delivery of pharmacogenetic and pharmacological information, comprising a core system having algorithms and databases for storing, collating, accessing, cross-referencing, and interpreting genetic and pharmacologic data, with a graphical user interface for a client network of providers of laboratory genetic testing services to access the core services under contract. The system includes “paypoints” in support of improved business models. Included are mechanisms for ‘pass through’ third party and insurance reimbursement for interpretive reports, insurance reimbursement for on-line access to pharmacogenetic information at the point of care, tools for market segmentation, and a conversion tool for capturing new subscribers. Also disclosed are tools and predictive algorithms for preventing drug-drug and drug-gene adverse drug reactions.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method comprising:
 receiving, at a computing system, an identification of a drug;   identifying, using the computing system, metabolic routes used in metabolization of the drug;   selecting, using the computing system, certain factors affecting exposure of a patient to the drug, wherein the certain factors are selected from a plurality of factors stored in at least one database accessible to the computing system, wherein the factors include other drugs, substances, characteristics of the patient, phenotypes of the patient, genotypes of the patient, clinical factors, or combinations or sub-combinations thereof;   for each metabolic route of the metabolic routes, quantifying, using the computing system, an expected effect on metabolization of the drug by the patient due to each of the certain factors;   summing, using the computing system, the expected effects to determine a score; and   providing an indicator of total effect on metabolization of the drug due to the certain factors, based at least in part on the score, to another computing system.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the indicator comprises a predicted percent change AUC. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said providing an indicator comprises causing, by the computing system, the indicator to be displayed on the user interface. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said providing an indicator comprises providing a warning of a potential patient-specific adverse reaction if the score exceeds a threshold. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the indicator is provided for use in writing or modifying a prescription. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising receiving, at the computing system, a change to or an addition to the list of factors, and providing an updated indicator based, at least in part, on the change. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the computing system is in electronic communication with a database of electronic medical records, and wherein at least one of the factors are stored in the database of electronic medical records. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the calculation further comprises:
 for at least one interaction between the drug and the certain factors for at least one of the metabolic routes, identifying at least one record accessible to the computing system of published reports of the interaction; and   providing, together with the indicator, at least one note or warning based, at least in part on the record of published reports of the interaction.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said quantifying comprises, for at least one factor for at least one metabolic route, utilizing an intensity factor extracted from clinical literature. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 identifying a therapeutic class associated with the drug;   if the score is greater than a threshold, identifying an alternate member of the therapeutic class and calculating an alternate score using the alternate member; and   providing an indication of the alternate member as a therapeutic alternative if the alternate score does not exceed the threshold.   
     
     
         11 . A computer program product including a non-transitory computer readable medium encoded with executable instructions that, when executed, cause a computing system to perform actions including:
 receiving an identification of a drug;   identifying metabolic routes used in metabolization of the drug;   selecting certain factors affecting exposure of a patient to the drug, wherein the certain factors are selected from a plurality of factors stored in at least one database accessible to the computing system, wherein the factors include other drugs, substances, characteristics of the patient, phenotypes of the patient, genotypes of the patient, clinical factors, or combinations or sub-combinations thereof;   for each metabolic route of the metabolic routes, quantifying an expected effect on metabolization of the drug by the patient due to each of the certain factors;   summing the expected effects to determine a score; and   providing an indicator of total effect on metabolization of the drug due to the certain factors, based at least in part on the score, to another computing system.   
     
     
         12 . The computer program product of  claim 11 , wherein the indicator comprises a predicted percent change AUC. 
     
     
         13 . The computer program product of  claim 11 , wherein said providing an indicator comprises causing the indicator to be displayed on the user interface. 
     
     
         14 . The computer program product of  claim 11 , wherein said providing an indicator comprises providing a warning of a potential patient-specific adverse reaction if the score exceeds a threshold. 
     
     
         15 . The computer program product of  claim 11 , wherein the indicator is provided for use in writing or modifying a prescription. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the actions further include receiving a change to or an addition to the list of factors, and providing an updated indicator based, at least in part, on the change. 
     
     
         17 . The computer program product of  claim 11 , wherein at least one of the factors are stored in a database of electronic medical records and the actions further include accessing the database of electronic medical records. 
     
     
         18 . The computer program product of  claim 11 , wherein the calculation further comprises:
 for at least one interaction between the drug and the certain factors for at least one of the metabolic routes, identifying at least one record accessible to the computing system of published reports of the interaction; and   providing, together with the indicator, at least one note or warning based, at least in part on the record of published reports of the interaction.   
     
     
         19 . The computer program product of  claim 11 , wherein said quantifying comprises, for at least one factor for at least one metabolic route, utilizing an intensity factor extracted from clinical literature. 
     
     
         20 . The computer program product of  claim 11 , wherein the actions further comprise:
 identifying a therapeutic class associated with the drug; and   if the score is greater than a threshold, identifying an alternate member of the therapeutic class and calculating an alternate score using the alternate member;   providing an indication of the alternate member as a therapeutic alternative if the alternate score does not exceed the threshold.