Clinical OMICs - Issue 7 - (Page 7)

Clinical OMICs NEWS Making the Case for Personalized Medicine P ersonalized medicine is gaining momentum, but it needs yet more impetus to break into the healthcare mainstream, argues a new report. Released on June 25 by the Personalized Medicine Coalition (PMC), the report examines opportunities for the continued development and adoption of personalized medicine as the cost of genetic sequencing declines, the pharmaceutical industry increases its commitment to personalized treatment, and the public policy landscape evolves. According to the report, personalized medicine is poised to: mercial fronts. Advances include a more than 16,000-fold decrease in sequencing costs over the past 10 years, a 57% increase in products the last three years, and a steadily growing number of drugs with labels that include pharmacogenomic informainforma tion. In 2006, there were 13 prominent examples of personalized drugs, treatments, and diagnostics on the market. In 2011, there were 72, and today there are 113. Despite these advances, the report soberly notes that guidelines that adapt to and encourage the coupling of diagnostics and medicines that target genetically defined populations. And professional education must be modernized to prepare the next generation of doctors and other health care professionprofession als for personalized medicine." "In a time of unprecedented scientific breakthroughs and technological advancements, personalized health care has the capacity to detect the onset of disease at its earli- * Shift the emphasis in medicine from reaction to prevention. * Direct the selection of optimal therapy and reduce trial-and-error prescribing. * Help avoid adverse drug reactions. * Increase patient adherence to treatment. * Improve quality of life. * Reveal additional or alternative uses for medicines and drug candidates. The report, which is entitled "The Case for Personalized Medicine," strikes a confident tone, citing progress along scientific, technological, and com- www.clinicalomics.com est stages, pre-empt the progression of disease, and, at the same time, increase the efficiency of the health care system by improving quality, accessibility, and affordability," said Edward Abrahams, president of the PMC. "We've come a long way, but we have a lot to do, especially in (continued on p. 26) July 16, 2014 Clinical OMICs 7 Image © Lonely-Shutterstock * Help control the overall cost of health care. technological changes need to be accompanied by cultural and institutional changes: "Such rapid developments...make it imperative for us to encourage the development and adoption of personalized medicine. It is essential to have appropriate coverage and payment policies, as these will encourage continued investment in new molecular diagnostics. We need regulatory http://www.clinicalomics.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Clinical OMICs - Issue 7

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Clinical OMICs - Issue 7