"When a Fortune 50 company like Medco makes a commitment to personalized medicine with an acquisition like this, it's proof positive that we are at a turning point in the healthcare industry," said Sharon Terry, president and chief executive officer of Genetic Alliance. "Integrating Medco's phenomenal capacity to respond to its members, with the innovative and creative patient-focused services of DNA Direct is a win for all consumers."

The DNA Direct purchase builds upon Medco's commitment to advancing pharmacogenomics (PGx), a cornerstone of which is the company's Personalized Medicine Research Center.  The research center is dedicated to furthering the understanding of the impact of genetics on patient medication response and applying that science to clinical practice. As knowledge is gained through the research, applications will be rolled out to the broader client base within Medco's precision health services.

"By integrating proven state-of-the-art science into every day care, we are providing patients and providers with actionable information that drives more personalized care to achieve higher efficacy or improved safety," said Dr. Robert Epstein, Medco's chief medical officer. "We have already started this today with our existing Personalized Medicine programs. DNA Direct will serve to accelerate our speed-to-market implementation capabilities, transforming research into actionable services to meet the demands of our clients and patients."

SOURCE Medco Health Solutions, Inc.