PILL PROTECT

Pill Protect® is an innovative CE-IVD marked medical test that allows to estimate the risk of deep-vein thrombosis related to the use of combined (oestro-progestative) contraceptive pills.

The test includes detection of specific genetic variations that can influence development of thrombosis (blood clots forming inside blood vessels). These genetic variations include known genetic changes such as Factor V-Leiden and Factor II-G20210A, but also other genetic variations associated with the coagulation and hormone metabolism.

The risk calculation takes into account not only the specific genetic factors, but also relevant clinical risk factors such as age, body mass index, smoking and family history of DVT, as well as the chemistry of different oral contraceptives available on the market.

The test was validated in a retrospective clinical study (McDaid A et al; PLoS One. 2017 Jul 27;12(7): e0182041.) including 1’600 women using contraceptive pills (800 women who developed deep-vein thrombosis and 800 controls). The study demonstrated that Pill Protect® was able to identify over 6 times more women at risk of developing thrombosis than the traditional approach based on a medical questionnaire that seeks to capture clinical risks. Health economic study (Sutherland CS, et al; BMJ Open 2019;9:e031325.) shows that Pill Protect® test is cost effective in Switzerland for screening women, seeking combined hormonal contraception, for their risk of thrombosis.

The test Pill Protect® provides physician a personalized medicine tool and allows to select for the most optimal contraception method in light of the risks involved; it also allows to provide greater clarity in discussion with the patient.

Pill Protect® is a genetic test and needs to be done only once in the life of the patient; it is non-invasive, a simple buccal swab is needed for the analysis.