Manipal Health Enterprises (MHE) today signed an agreement with Avesthagen Limited, a Life Sciences Company based in Bangalore for the launch of AvestaScan™ Whole Genome Scan (WGS) service. A WGS of an individual/patient measures the changes in genes and gives the risk (predisposition) of occurrence a particular disease in an individual’s lifetime. Disease risk is one way of describing the likelihood of a person developing a particular disease.
A whole genome scan of an individual/patient would provide information to understand his/her own genetic make-up that would lead to an increased awareness about the predisposition to a particular disease(s). The 28 diseases which are covered by AvestaScan include major types of cancer, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, schizophrenia, Alzheimer’s, asthma, anemia and arthritis.
Commenting on this development Dr. Nagendra Swamy, President, Manipal Health
Enterprises, said “WGS aims at bringing holistic solutions that assists in predicting and
preventing the occurrence of diseases in patients and consequently provide solutions for treatment after diagnosis.” This will indeed increase quality of one’s life, he added. Best time do a preventive health check is when you don’t need one he believes.
Dr. Sudarshan Ballal, Medical Director, Manipal Health Enterprises, said, “Preventive Health is the mantra today across the world. People are getting more and more aware about leading quality lifestyle and this unique service will help MHE in providing access to personalized genomics to the people who are looking to lead a quality life. Through WGS we will be able to get efficient and quality results. By employing such services, patients will now have access to personalized genomics services which will enable a quality life, which until now were only available in the developed markets.
“There is a growing trend towards people becoming more aware about their health and wellness and are curious in learning more about who they are on a complex genetic level. The whole genome scan report would give the person their individualized risk and an edge to combat 28 possible diseases before the damage is done, and in addition indirectly helps in the understanding of health trends running in the family. The cost effectiveness and personalized information available at the end of the Whole Genome scan is what makes this an impressive feat. I believe it is safe to say that those who initially choose to take Avesthagen’s Whole Genome Test will be those who are looking to maximize their health and wellness with focused healthcare needs through lifestyle modifications or early treatment. It is definitely a welcome addition to Manipal Health Enterprises list of Genetic Assays”, said Dr Sridevi Hegde, HOD & Consultant, Geneticist, Manipal Hospital
According to Dr. Villoo Morawala- Patell, founder and Chairperson, Avesthagen, “We have found a partner who is recognized for their commitment to deliver quality healthcare services. This enables Avesthagen to bring its products a step closer to the market.”
The whole genome scan will be carried out on DNA extracted from saliva / buccal swab provided by the individual. The results of the analyses will be available to the individual through an on-line secure web portal. The report will consist of: Details on an individual’s level of risk for 28 diseases. This method will calculate the risk ratio of the disease occurrence and the association of the disease to the mutation.
About Manipal Health Enterprises
The flagship of Manipal Health Enterprises is Bangalore’s Manipal Hospital that comprises specialized institutes like Manipal Heart Institute (MHI), Manipal Institute for Neurological Disorders (MIND), Manipal Institute of Nephrology and Urology (MINU), Manipal Comprehensive Cancer Centre (MCCC), Manipal International Institute of Dental Science (MIIDS), Manipal Institute of Diabetes, Endocrine and Metabolic Disorders (MIDEM), Manipal Andrology and Reproductive Service (MARS) and Manipal Hospital Diagnostics Services (MHDS) amongst its 55 clinical departments. The hospital has been declared winner of the prestigious Golden Peacock National Quality Award 2005 in the service category. Manipal Hospital, Bangalore is India’s first hospital to be ISO 9001:2000 certified for Clinical, Nursing, Diagnostics and Allied Areas. Manipal Hospital has been repeatedly ranked amongst the ten best hospitals in Bangalore.
For further information please contact: Anjana Chandran, Manipal Hospital, 9886278400
Bhavya DR, LINOpinion, 9880807003
About Avesthagen Limited
Avesthagen is globally recognized as a leading Systems Biology Company with a unique model focused on the
convergence of food, pharma and population genetics. A convergence that leads to continuous and path‐breaking innovations in predictive, preventive and personalized healthcare. Avesthagen partners include multiple top 10 global companies in each of its fields of research. Since its inception Avesthagen has grown into one of India’s leading healthcare biotech companies. In addition to its agri‐biotechnologies product pipeline it has developed clinically validated botanical bioActives and a strong pipeline of biosimilars.
