Review article
Roadmap to personalized medicine
Malak Qattan
; Faculty of Life Sciences, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
Constantinos Demonacos
; School of Pharmacy, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
Marija Krstic-Demonacos
; Faculty of Life Sciences, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
Abstract
Abstract Standard clinical protocols and the concept “one
drug fits all” that are currently used to treat illness in many
cases are not effective, and strikingly so in the treatment
of cancer, where 75% of therapeutic schemes are ineffective.
The concept of personalized medicine is that the
treatment of the disease is designed on the basis of the
individual needs of each patient and the factors that influence
their response to different drugs. Individualization
of patient care has the potential to generate novel effective
therapies, limit the adverse drug effects, create optimal
treatments for individual patients, and decrease the cost
associated with chronic illness and complications of drug
usage. However, to achieve the goals of personalized medicine
many challenges must be addressed. Here we discuss
possible ways to increase the consistency of data generated
by basic research and their suitability for application in
medicine. New technologies employing systems biology
and computer based approaches will facilitate overcoming
many of the scientific challenges in the field. Changes in
the education of researchers, health professionals, and the
public are also required to successfully implement personalized
medicine as a routine in the clinic. Finally, shift of the
focus away from the development of blockbuster drugs in
the biopharmaceutical industry, and modifications in the
legal system to accommodate novel advancements need
to be considered. The joint effort of all interested parties is
needed to generate an efficient roadmap that will take us
rapidly and safely to effective individual treatment, which
will eliminate diseases and create better health care for all.
Keywords
Hrčak ID:
85766
URI
Publication date:
15.8.2012.
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