Precision medicine is advancing treatment outcomes and healthcare efficiency
Personalized medicine approaches based on an individual's genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors can improve treatment outcomes and healthcare efficiency (812 words, 4 minutes)
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Precision medicine, also known as personalized medicine, is rapidly progressing and holds great promise for improving treatment outcomes and healthcare efficiency. This approach utilizes a patient’s genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors to create targeted treatments and interventions. By customizing medical strategies to a patient’s individual characteristics, precision medicine can increase effectiveness, reduce side effects, and improve overall patient health and well-being.
Research published in BMC Medical Genomics reports that one of the key foundations of precision medicine is integrating genomic information into healthcare practices. Since the completion of The Human Genome Project in 2003, advancements in genomic sequencing technologies have made it possible to analyze an individual’s genetic makeup more rapidly and cost-effectively. These new technologies allow healthcare professionals to make more informed decisions about treatment options by identifying specific genetic variations that may impact disease susceptibility or drug response.
Precision medicine also considers environmental and lifestyle factors that influence health. Factors such as diet, exercise habits, exposure to toxins, and socio-economic conditions can all play a role in the development and progression of diseases. An article published by the Center for Precision Medicine and Data Sciences at the University of California, Davis notes that physicians could develop treatment plans that address the root causes of illness by considering these factors alongside genetic information.
Precision medicine is also promising in rare diseases, where traditional treatment approaches sometimes fall short due to limited available therapies. A review published in the Journal of Internal Medicine notes that rare diseases collectively affect 3.5% to 5.9% of the global population. According to the authors, precision medicine leverages advanced genomic sequencing technologies and AI-driven data analysis to identify specific genetic mutations or alterations responsible for a particular condition, which optimizes rare disease research.
Several countries have taken significant steps to implement genomic medicine and precision medicine approaches in diagnosing and treating rare diseases. For example, the United Kingdom launched the 100,000 Genomes Project in 2012. This project focused on rare diseases, cancer, and infectious diseases, leading to genetic diagnoses in 25% of the study’s participants. In Sweden, the Genomic Medicine Sweden initiative (GMS), launched in 2017, looks to integrate genomics-based methods into routine healthcare by improving diagnostics for rare diseases and clinical genomic sequencing. In France, a 2017 plan called “France Médecine Génomique 2025” aims to integrate genomic medicine into healthcare by sequencing 235,000 genomes annually.
In addition, the Journal of Psychiatry and Neuroscience notes that precision medicine can also contribute to the development of more efficient clinical trials, accelerating the discovery and approval of novel therapies.
Additional sources:
THIS WEEK 07/18/23
The U.S. FDA approved Perrigo Company’s norgestrel (Opill), a progestin-only daily oral contraceptive, for over-the-counter use.
Lupin announced that Health Canada approved a generic version of tiotropium bromide inhalation powder (Spiriva) for treating chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
Health Canada granted a Notice of Compliance with Conditions for AstraZeneca and Merck’s olaparib (Lynparza) in combination with abiraterone and prednisone or prednisolone for the treatment of adult patients with deleterious or suspected deleterious germline and somatic BRCA mutated metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer.
In collaboration with the Skin Spectrum Summit, Pfizer Canada has announced the new Canadian Skin of Colour & Diversity Scholarship program to improve dermatologic care for underrepresented populations. The scholarship invites dermatology residents across Canada to propose projects to address an education or care gap specific to skin of colour and diversity that is not already or completely fulfilled in medical dermatology. More information here.
LISTEN UP
In season 10 of the NPC Podcast, Frank Stramaglia, GM of Astellas Pharma Canada Inc., discusses embracing technology and omnichannel marketing, prioritizing employee engagement, and making compliance a company-wide responsibility. Hear him in conversation with podcast hosts Mitch Shannon, Jim Shea and Mark McElwain.
HEALTHBIZ REWIND
This feature of NPC Healthbiz Weekly looks back at some of the most insightful moments from previous NPC Podcast episodes. In Healthbiz Rewind, you’ll read bold life sci predictions made during the renowned “Prognostication Korner” segment of the NPC Podcast.
Sandra Heller
General Manager, Canada
Seagen Canada
Toronto
Season 6, episode 05
Listen to this episode here
What bold predictions will you make about the life sciences industry during the coming 12 to 24 months? (This episode was recorded in Feb. 2022)
I think we will continue evolving because the industry has changed. I don’t think we will return 100 percent to where we used to be in 2019 or the years before. If we take the positives out of [these changes], I think we’ll be able to find ways of being better at work-life balance, not just for the employees but also for our healthcare professionals who are facing the brunt of a lot of work right now. I think that’s something that we’re much more attuned to after the pandemic. I hope that we don’t go back to all of the activities we used to do in the past and feel like the only way of doing them is by being there in person all the time with long hours and lots of travel.
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