![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/WhatsApp-Image-2023-08-24-at-5.41.40-PM-2.jpg\")
<\/p>\nWhen AIG Hospitals tested over 1,500 patients\u2014later expanded to 2,000\u2014taking medications for diabetes, hypertension and ulcers, they that nearly 30 percent were taking drugs unsuitable for their genetic makeup. \n <\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Published Oct 24, 2025 | 9:47 AM \u268a Updated Oct 24, 2025 | 9:47 AM<\/p>\n
Dr Reddy with Dr Challa and Dr Uppaluri<\/p>\n Synopsis: AIG Hospitals has introduced India\u2019s first affordable pharmacogenomic testing, after after discovering that that nearly 30 percent of patients respond poorly to standard prescriptions due to genetic differences, including a key enzyme affecting heart, diabetes, and ulcer medications. The test analyses 120 genes from a small blood sample, producing a lifelong personalised report that guides doctors on which drugs and dosages will work safely and effectively for each patient, bridging the gap between Western textbook prescriptions and Indian genetics.<\/p>\n The cardiac patient had done everything right. He underwent surgery. Took Clopidogrel faithfully after the procedure to prevent stent blockages. Followed every instruction.<\/p>\n Then he suffered a heart attack anyway.<\/p>\n \u201cWe often see patients suffer heart attacks even after surgery, despite being on this medication,\u201d Dr D Nageshwar Reddy, Chairman of AIG Hospitals, said. \u201cWe now know this happens because, in about 20 percent of Indians, the enzyme required to activate Clopidogrel doesn\u2019t function properly.\u201d<\/p>\n The drug wasn\u2019t working. The patient\u2019s body couldn\u2019t activate it. And until recently, nobody knew to check.<\/p>\n When AIG Hospitals tested over 1,500 patients\u2014later expanded to 2,000\u2014taking medications for diabetes, hypertension and ulcers, they discovered something that challenges decades of medical practice: nearly 30 percent were taking drugs unsuitable for their genetic makeup.<\/p>\n The findings prompted AIG Hospitals to launch India\u2019s first affordable pharmacogenomics test in collaboration with GenepoweRx. For \u20b95,000, patients receive a lifelong report showing which medicines work for their body and which don\u2019t.<\/p>\n Also Read: Gentle birds that are called symbols of peace are leaving a trail of scarred lungs<\/a> \u201cTraditionally, doctors prescribe medicines based on what\u2019s written in textbooks \u2013 one tablet after food, or two tablets a day, and so on,\u201d Dr D Nageshwar Reddy explained. \u201cBut this is not the right approach, because every individual metabolises drugs differently. Our bodies have enzymes that either activate or destroy these medicines, and the activity of these enzymes varies from person to person.\u201d<\/p>\n For example, the enzyme CYP2C19 exposes the gap between Western medical data and Indian genetics. In Western populations, the enzyme functions fully. In Indians, it shows little or no activity in nearly 20 percent of the population.<\/p>\n \u201cThat means when we apply Western data and prescriptions directly in India, one in five patients may not respond to the medicine at all,\u201d Dr Reddy said.<\/p>\n The problem compounds across drug categories. The same enzyme interacts with anti-ulcer medicines, creating unexpected effects. Drug response depends on genetic makeup and organ health \u2013 how liver and kidneys function.<\/p>\n \u201cUntil now, no one had systematically studied why this variation occurs, how much it affects drug response, or what medicine and dosage should actually be prescribed for each individual,\u201d Dr Reddy noted.<\/p>\n The study that changed prescriptions<\/p>\n Dr Hima Challa completed clinical rotations in genomics at Harvard Medical School. Dr Kalyan Uppaluri trained in internal medicine at Stanford University. Both had witnessed pharmacogenomic testing at major American institutions\u2014Harvard, Stanford, Mayo Clinic\u2014where the FDA now mandates genetic biomarkers for medications.<\/p>\n \u201cThe FDA now mandates that any medication prescribed to a patient should ideally have a genetic biomarker attached to it, because the same drug at the same dose doesn\u2019t work uniformly across individuals,\u201d Dr Challa said. \u201cThe era of trial-and-error prescribing is over; it only increases the risk of adverse drug reactions.\u201d<\/p>\n When they approached Dr D Nageshwar Reddy with the concept, he recognised its importance. No hospital in India was conducting such testing.<\/p>\n \u201cWe started GenepoweRx in 2019, and Dr Reddy has been our mentor since our early days in medicine,\u201d Dr Challa said. \u201cWhen we approached him with this idea, he immediately understood its importance \u2013 being a truly progressive physician.\u201d<\/p>\n Dr Reddy initiated a study on over 1,500 patients with conditions like diabetes, hypertension and ulcers who were taking multiple medications. The study eventually expanded to 2,000 patients. All underwent pharmacogenomic testing.<\/p>\n \u201cWe followed rigorous scientific protocols, similar to those used internationally, and ensured long-term follow-up,\u201d Dr Challa said. \u201cThe findings were eye-opening \u2013 many commonly prescribed medications simply do not work in a significant section of our population.\u201d<\/p>\n The results revealed that in about 30 percent of patients, standard textbook prescriptions proved unsuitable. Dosages required adjustment \u2013 some patients needed higher doses, others needed lower doses.<\/p>\n \u201cThis clearly shows that without pharmacogenomic insights, we risk giving the wrong prescriptions,\u201d Dr Reddy said.<\/p>\n Also Read: Poverty and chronic illness: Andhra\u2019s poor battle diabetes, Telangana\u2019s poor turn to alcohol<\/a> The testing process mirrors routine blood work. Lab staff collect 2 mL of blood. Scientists extract DNA and analyse it using Next Generation Sequencing.<\/p>\n \u201cWe use validated sequencing platforms such as Illumina and MGI, which produce a massive amount of data \u2013 nearly 5 GB for each patient,\u201d Dr Challa explained. \u201cThis DNA data is then analysed for gene\u2013drug interactions based on the latest FDA-approved pharmacogenomic markers.\u201d<\/p>\n The system analyses 120 genes influencing drug metabolism. The analysis covers medications for heart disease, diabetes, cancer, gastrointestinal disorders, neurological and psychiatric illnesses, and pain management.<\/p>\n The process takes about 12 days from sample collection to report delivery.<\/p>\n Each patient receives a personalised booklet listing which medicines work for them, suitable dosages, and drugs to avoid. The report stays valid for life \u2013 genetic profiles don\u2019t change.<\/p>\n \u201cFrom the patient\u2019s perspective, it\u2019s really simple \u2013 just give a small blood sample at the lab. Come back after 12 or 13 days to collect your report,\u201d Dr Reddy said. \u201cIn the meantime, doctors can issue a temporary prescription if needed. Once the report arrives, we can finalise a more accurate, personalised prescription. The best part is \u2013 this test is lifelong. You never need to repeat it.\u201d<\/p>\n The cost breakthrough<\/p>\n Pharmacogenomic testing in the US costs about $1,000 \u2013 approximately \u20b980,000 to \u20b987,000. Making it affordable for Indian patients required extensive work.<\/p>\n \u201cThrough extensive optimization, data validation, and quality control, we managed to bring the cost down to \u20b95,000 without compromising accuracy,\u201d Dr Challa said.<\/p>\n The operational cost runs between \u20b93,000 and \u20b94,000 per test. Adding overheads\u2014intellectual inputs, analysis, logistics\u2014brings the total to \u20b95,000. With larger scale adoption, the team projects costs could drop to around \u20b92,000 or \u20b93,000.<\/p>\n \u201cIt depends on reagent usage and patient volume. The more patients we test, the lower the per-sample cost becomes,\u201d Dr Challa explained. \u201cReaching \u20b95,000 itself wasn\u2019t easy \u2013 standard genomic tests usually cost \u20b97,000 or more.\u201d<\/p>\n The test saves money beyond its price. Many patients need smaller medication doses than standard prescriptions provide.<\/p>\n \u201cFor example, I\u2019ve seen cases where a patient required only one tablet on alternate days \u2013 but because we didn\u2019t know that before, we prescribed it daily,\u201d Dr Reddy said. \u201cWith pharmacogenomic insights, we can cut unnecessary medication costs by nearly 50 percent.\u201d<\/p>\n Side effects generate additional expenses. Patients experiencing adverse reactions may require extra treatment or hospitalisation. Personalising doses from the start prevents these outcomes.<\/p>\n Dr Reddy recalled a patient who developed severe hyperthermia during surgery \u2013 uncontrollable body temperature spikes. Later testing revealed a gene abnormality making him susceptible to this reaction.<\/p>\n \u201cIf we had known beforehand, we could have prevented it \u2013 and saved his life,\u201d he said. \u201cSo when you think about it, this \u20b95,000 test is actually saving lives and long-term medical costs many times over.\u201d<\/p>\n Also Read: Tobacco increases sperm damage risk by four times in Indian men: Study<\/a> AIG Hospitals now tests every admitted patient and visiting outpatient before writing prescriptions. The pharmacogenomic reports integrate into the hospital\u2019s electronic medical record system.<\/p>\n \u201cOnce this data is entered into a patient\u2019s electronic medical record, every time they visit a doctor, their genomic information automatically appears on the screen,\u201d Dr Reddy explained. \u201cSo, when a doctor prescribes a medicine, the system instantly indicates whether that drug and dosage are suitable for that particular patient.\u201d<\/p>\n The hospital is integrating artificial intelligence. When doctors type a patient\u2019s name, AI will suggest the right drug and dosage based on their genetic profile.<\/p>\n GenepoweRx\u2019s proprietary SIGMA-ML platform uses advanced algorithms and next-generation sequencing to interpret genetic data and generate physician-friendly reports that appear seamlessly in the EMR system.<\/p>\n \u201cWe are excited to partner with AIG Hospitals to bring advanced pharmacogenomic testing into everyday clinical care,\u201d said Dr Kalyan Uppaluri, Managing Director of GenepoweRx. \u201cThis will help doctors prescribe safer and more effective medicines for their patients.\u201d<\/p>\n The portable solution<\/p>\n Electronic medical records work in tertiary care centres. Smaller clinics and rural areas often lack such systems.<\/p>\n \u201cEach patient gets a printed booklet that clearly mentions which medicines they can take, the suitable dosages, and other important details,\u201d Dr Reddy said. \u201cSo even if someone goes to a remote village, they can show that booklet to their local doctor. It doesn\u2019t require any computer, internet, or EMR access \u2013 it\u2019s simple and portable.\u201d<\/p>\n The booklet covers over 120 disease categories. A patient with cardiac issues, ulcers and diabetes can use the same report with different specialists.<\/p>\n In emergencies, patients carry their booklets. ER doctors consult the report and immediately know which medicines and doses are safe and effective for that individual.<\/p>\n \u201cOtherwise, we rely only on textbook guidelines, which may not suit every patient,\u201d Dr Reddy said.<\/p>\n Also Read: One-day menstrual leave is just tokenism, not real progress: Dr Hema Diwakar<\/a> Dr Kalyan Uppaluri identified how current practice creates problems.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen a drug doesn\u2019t work, instead of identifying the cause, we often just add another medication,\u201d he said. \u201cThis leads to polypharmacy \u2013 patients end up taking multiple drugs unnecessarily, which increases risks and costs.\u201d<\/p>\n Many patients don\u2019t report side effects because they assume symptoms are normal.<\/p>\n \u201cMany patients don\u2019t fully report their side effects to physicians,\u201d Dr Hima Challa said. \u201cThey assume certain symptoms are normal. Only when a doctor directly asks or probes further do they mention discomforts. These tests help us uncover the complete picture\u2014how a patient\u2019s body is really responding to the drug\u2014not just what they perceive.\u201d<\/p>\n India\u2019s genetic diversity<\/p>\n India\u2019s genetic variation makes testing essential. Patients from different regions metabolise drugs differently. Even family members show variation.<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s a lot of genetic variation across India\u2019s populations \u2013 from region to region, even within the same ethnic groups,\u201d Dr D Nageshwar Reddy said. \u201cFor instance, certain populations in the Northeast have very different drug metabolism profiles.\u201d<\/p>\n He treated two family members with the same condition. Both responded differently to identical medications. Only after adjusting dosages based on each person\u2019s genetic report did both respond properly.<\/p>\n \u201cUnless they\u2019re identical twins, each person needs their own test,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n The study drew samples from across India. AIG Hospitals, being a tertiary care centre, naturally had patients coming from every region \u2013 north, south, east, and west.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ve conducted a landmark study \u2013 the largest pharmacogenomic dataset in India,\u201d Dr Challa said. \u201cWe analysed data from over 2,000 patients. Typically, genomic studies include around 1,000 samples, but ours was much larger.\u201d<\/p>\n The team also references UK Biobank data, which includes about a million patients with roughly 15 percent Indian representation \u2013 the rest being mostly Caucasian.<\/p>\n \u201cWhile the core genes are the same globally, certain genetic variations differ by ethnicity, which is why Indian-specific data is so important,\u201d Dr Challa explained.<\/p>\n Also Read: South India\u2019s birth registrations fall 17% while Bihar, Uttar Pradesh drive national growth<\/a> \u201cI would recommend that all patients\u2014ideally at an early stage\u2014undergo this test,\u201d Dr D Nageshwar Reddy said. \u201cThe reason is simple: it\u2019s not just relevant for the present, but for your entire lifetime. Once done, the test remains valid forever and can guide your treatment every time you\u2019re prescribed a medicine in the future.\u201d<\/p>\n Cost remains a consideration. At minimum, anyone taking medication for more than a month should get tested.<\/p>\n \u201cFor short-term issues like fever or diarrhoea, it may not be necessary, but for chronic or long-term conditions, it is extremely useful,\u201d Dr Reddy said.<\/p>\n The test works at any age. Paediatric patients can undergo testing.<\/p>\n \u201cSince our genes remain the same throughout life, the results will stay valid permanently,\u201d Dr Reddy said. \u201cSo even paediatric patients can undergo the test \u2013 it\u2019s a one-time lifelong report.\u201d<\/p>\n The test isn\u2019t disease-specific. It analyses how bodies process any medicine by studying about 190 genes governing metabolic pathways.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s not for one specific disease,\u201d Dr Reddy explained. \u201cThis test can be used for multiple diseases \u2013 essentially for any condition where medication is involved. Every drug we take works through specific biochemical pathways, and different medicines use different pathways.\u201d<\/p>\n Dr Challa reinforced the preventive aspect.<\/p>\n \u201cI believe this should become as common as a CBC test \u2013 just another part of routine health screening,\u201d she said. \u201cYou don\u2019t have to be on any medication to benefit from this test. It\u2019s about building long-term clinical utility for every patient.\u201d<\/p>\n
\n ![](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/SUB.jpg\"\/)
\n <\/a><\/p>\n![\"Standard](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Dr-Reddy-with-Dr-Challa-and-Dr-Uppaluri.jpg\" "\\"Dr")
<\/p>\n
\nThe textbook problem<\/p>\n
\nBlood sample to lifelong report<\/p>\n
\nIntegrated into practice<\/p>\n
\nThe polypharmacy trap<\/p>\n
\nWho should get tested<\/p>\n
![](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/1761305173_94_image.jpg\"\/)
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"When AIG Hospitals tested over 1,500 patients\u2014later expanded to 2,000\u2014taking medications for diabetes, hypertension and ulcers, they that…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":222521,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[42],"tags":[5573,102,2960,6629,6591,13886,56,95076,54,55],"class_list":{"0":"post-222520","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-medication","8":"tag-diabetes","9":"tag-health","10":"tag-healthcare","11":"tag-hypertension","12":"tag-medication","13":"tag-medications","14":"tag-uk","15":"tag-ulcers","16":"tag-united-kingdom","17":"tag-unitedkingdom"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/222520","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=222520"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/222520\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/222521"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=222520"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=222520"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=222520"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}