What is Precision Medicine?

Precision medicine provides patients with better treatment tailored based on their health and personal history.

Research has shown that different people respond to the same treatment very differently. For instance, patients treated similarly for leukemia might have success or failure. Different genetic mutations and other factors alter the underlying molecular structures differently, resulting in different response to the same solution. This calls for understanding the different underlying molecular structures, to be able to suggest the right medication. With the advent in technology, it is now possible to understand a tumor’s DNA or protein composition. Scientists are using such analysis and pushing the boundaries for finding suitable treatment options.

The goal of precision medicine is to provide patients with custom tailored treatment, based on their health and environmental factors. Several factors contribute to the state of a person’s health, like genetics, environment, lifestyle, diet and much more. These factors can be considered while determining the best approach to treat a person’s illness. Precision medicine supports healthcare by using technology, new drugs, and tests. The long term goal however, is to be able to predict and prevent diseases before they can surface.