Thermo Fisher launches new test to personalize transplant drug dosing

For organ transplant patients, finding the right dose of anti-rejection medication can mean the difference between recovery and serious complications. Thermo Fisher Scientific, based in Waltham, has introduced a new genetic test designed to make that process faster and more precise.

The company’s TacroType Pharmacogenetic Test helps doctors tailor doses of tacrolimus, a drug that prevents the body from rejecting a transplanted organ. Tacrolimus is one of the most widely used immunosuppressants, but it can be tricky to manage. Each patient processes the drug differently, largely because of genetic differences.

If a dose is too low, the immune system may attack the new organ. Too high, and patients risk kidney injury, infection or other side effects. “In transplant medicine, we often see significant variability in how patients respond to tacrolimus,” said Keith Melancon, director of the George Washington Transplant Institute in Washington, D.C. He is an advisor to Thermo Fisher. “Having pharmacogenetic information upfront can help inform initial dosing decisions, reduce the need for repeated adjustments and support more consistent immunosuppressive management when patients are most vulnerable.”

The TacroType test uses a simple cheek swab to identify a patient’s CYP3A5 gene type, which helps determine how quickly their body breaks down tacrolimus. With that information, clinicians can make more informed dosing decisions even before surgery, complementing ongoing therapeutic drug monitoring.

“When patients receive a transplant, every day matters,” said Tina Liedtky, president of Thermo Fisher’s transplant diagnostics business. “The TacroType test gives clinicians valuable information from the start and supports more effective, personalized care for patients during a critical period.”

Thermo Fisher says the TacroType test reflects a growing shift toward “pharmacogenetics”—an emerging field that uses DNA information to predict how a person will respond to medications. Such tools aim to move health care away from one-size-fits-all dosing and toward more precise, data-driven medicine.

More details about the TacroType test are available at thermofisher.com/tacrotype.