A NEW ENZYMATIC TEST FOR THEOPHYLLINE

THEOPHYLLINE IS A DRUG CURRENTLY USED BY MOST ASTHMATIC/ALLERGIC ADULTS AND CHILDREN, CONSTITUTING OVER SIX MILLION PATIENTS. THERAPY REQUIRES FREQUENT MONITORING OF THEOPHYLLINE LEVELS IN BLOOD AS IT CAUSES TOXICITY AT CONCENTRATIONS HIGHER THAN 20MG/L AND IS INEFFECTIVE AT LOWER THAN 10 MG/L. CURRENT TESTING IS DONE IN HOSPITAL/COMMERCIAL LABORATORIES AT A COST OF $27.00 PER TEST TO MEDICARE/MEDICAID. THERE IS GREAT NEED FOR A COST EFFECTIVE, EASY TO PERFORM TEST FOR THEOPHYLLINE SO THAT PHYSICIANS, IN THEIR OFFICES, OR PATIENTS CAN QUICKLY MONITOR THIS DRUG BY USING A DROP OF WHOLE BLOOD FROM A FINGER TIP. CURRENT TESTS FOR THEOPHYLLINE USE ANTIGEN-ANTIBODY TECHNOLOGY AND ARE CUMBERSOME AND EXPENSIVE. ALTERNATIVELY,GDS TECHNOLOGY'S DISCOVERY OF A NEW ENZYME, NAMELY THEOPHYLLINE OXIDASE, WHICH SELECTIVELY OXIDIZES THEOPHYLLINE COULD ENABLE THE DEVELOPMENT OF A SIMPLE, CONVENIENT, AND SPECIFIC ENZYMATIC TEST. THIS PROPOSAL (PHASE I) FOCUSES ON INITIAL FEASIBILITY STUDIES AND WILL INCLUDE STUDYING THE PROPERTIES OF THIS ENZYME TO ESTABLISH ITS SUITABILITY FOR A COMMERCIAL TEST. THE GOAL OF PHASE II WILL BE THE DEVELOPMENT OF A CONVENIENT ENZYMATIC DRY CHEMISTRY TEST FOR THEOPHYLLINE WHICH WILL COST $1.00-2.00 AND THUS WILL GREATLY REDUCE HEALTH CARE COST.