The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has sanctioned the first-ever DNA test, AvertD, to evaluate the risk of opioid addiction in specific individuals. Developed by SOLVD Health, and now owned by AutoGenomics, the AvertD test is intended for use prior to the first consumption of oral opioid painkillers for short-term treatment of acute pain, such as prior to planned surgical procedures.
The FDA approved AvertD for use in adults considering the treatment of acute pain with short-term prescription of opioid pain medicine after a planned surgery, a groundbreaking development in the battle against opioid addiction. However, the test is not designed for use in patients being treated for chronic pain.
The information yielded by the AvertD test can provide crucial insight for patients, empowering them to make better-informed decisions about their pain management. Yet, the FDA maintains that this vital information should be utilized as part of a comprehensive clinical evaluation and risk assessment and not as the sole basis for making treatment decisions.
This step marks a significant milestone in leveraging genetic testing to tackle the opioid crisis, ensuring that patients and healthcare providers have advanced tools at their disposal to make more informed choices regarding pain management and opioid usage.
The AvertD test’s approval underscores the FDA’s commitment to fostering innovative solutions to combat the opioid epidemic, paving the way for a precision medicine approach to pain management. With this groundbreaking development, patients and healthcare providers now have access to a groundbreaking tool that can aid in identifying and managing the risk of opioid use disorder, thereby contributing to the broader effort to curb opioid addiction.
In summary, the approval of the AvertD DNA test represents a pivotal advancement in addressing the opioid epidemic and underscores the immense potential of genetic testing in transforming pain management practices. This milestone signals a new era in healthcare, equipping patients and healthcare providers with the means to make more precise, personalized decisions in the assessment and management of opioid addiction risk.
