Genetic Testing Prevents Disease

Astra Biotech’s philosophy is that it is far better to be able to prevent a disease or to treat it with a view to reducing its effects rather than to start treatment when
the disease has already progressed considerably. The company have developed genetic tests to identify predisposition to major diseases such as osteoporosis and thrombosis so that early treatment will minimise the associated risks with these major disorders which affect a high percentage of the world’s population. If the patient is aware of the increased risk of such diseases then they will be able to take preventative measures to contain or significantly reduce the impact of the illness.

Although it is well known that over 80% of clinical decisions are based on laboratory tests which identify the cause of a condition, tests are typically undertaken only once the symptoms become apparent. This provides the patient with a treatment scenario which is potentially more intensive than it would be if the disease had been identified at an earlier stage, thus increasing the risks, costs and of course distress.

Astra Biotech strives to reduce the effects of disease by enabling earlier identification. Genetic testing provides this early warning and makes available to the doctor all the information to assess risk factors and therefore to establish a course of prevention, disease reduction or cure. Astra Biotech’s goal is to contribute to the individual’s quality of life through prevention of disease rather than having to cure it, and thus to contribute to improving overall healthcare.

Currently available are test kits for quality-of-life reducing conditions such as osteoporosis and cardio-vascular disease (thrombosis), plus an individual’s sensitivity to anti-coagulant drugs. In the development pipeline are tests for allergies which increasingly affect a growing number of the population and which, in addition to the inconvenience of having an allergy, may actually trigger other health symptoms with more serious consequences. Furthermore, a test for the lifethreatening disease cystic fibrosis is in the final stages of development.

Astra Biotech GmbH manufacture to the highest standards and all their assays are IVD compliant with simple instructions for use so they are very convenient to establish into the laboratory.