] Now, several companies and medical laboratories are
] developing rapid genetic tests to determine who is likely
] to respond poorly, or not at all, to standard doses of
] common medications. These tests represent the beginning
] of a fundamental change in the way medicine is practiced,
] by tailoring the choice of drug and the amount prescribed
] to the genetics of the patient.
]
] The full impact may not be felt for five or 10 years. But
] already, Roche, the worldwide leader in marketing
] diagnostic tests, is betting $70 million on new gene
] chips from Affymetrix in Santa Clara. The first Roche
] AmpliChip will check patients for common variations in
] two genes that play crucial roles in the breakdown of
] almost half of the prescription drugs now on the market.

Finally.