Daniel Hertz, PharmD, PhD, member of Precision Health, received the inaugural STRIPE Double Helix Award from the American Society of Pharmacovigilance. The award recognizes his leadership in advocating for enhanced drug labeling and clinical practice guidelines that will prevent toxic drug reactions and he was among 28 individuals honored in the category of Excellence in Advancing Pharmacogenomics Through Collaboration.

This award recognizes leaders who have driven significant advancements in pharmacogenomic testing by fostering collaboration across disciplines, organizations, and sectors. Awardees were recognized for work that has helped bridge gaps in science, practice, and policy, accelerating the adoption of PGx, according to the ASP.

Dr. Hertz is active in efforts to promote testing for variants of the DPYD gene before prescribing fluoropyrimidine-based chemotherapies. Patients who carry these variants experience severe, potentially fatal toxic reactions to the drug. Through publications and advocacy, he has worked to change prescribing guidelines to call for simple genetic testing to identify patients susceptible to harm from this common class of cancer drugs.

This Hertz Lab project began several years ago with data and support from Precision Health. Using data from Michigan Genomics Initiative, he identified patients carrying DPYD variants to conduct precision confirmatory genetic testing. The results of this testing may inform appropriate fluoropyrimidine treatment to prevent severe, potentially fatal, toxicities. Dr. Hertz then set-up a notification in MiChart, so when someone from this pre-identified group was going to receive the chemo drugs of concern, Hertz lab could contact the patient to see if they wanted to participate in the research study. If opting in, the patient would give a blood sample and confirm the DPYD variant through clinical testing. Once verified, the patient can be treated appropriately, and physician would potentially reduce the dose of fluoropyrimidine treatment.

Dr. Hertz continues to work with Michigan Genomics Initiative, using genotype data from this specific population to partner with the pharmaceutical industry to establish standards and codify treatment best practices for fluoropyrimidine.

An Associate Professor of Pharmacy, Dr. Hertz also serves as an unpaid adviser to Advocates for Universal DPD/DPYD Testing (AUDT), a group founded by surviving family members who watched a loved one suffer and die from severe toxicity. The group estimates that 700 to 1,400 lives can be saved annually with a test that costs about $200.

“I am honored to receive this recognition for our work, and I hope it will help bring heightened awareness and a move toward genetic testing before prescribing these drugs.” Dr. Dan Hertz

The award was presented Oct. 23, 2024, at a special ceremony at the U.S. Pharmacopeia during the STRIPE Annual Meeting and Consensus Workshop.