Applications of Personalised Medicine
Personalized medicine will result in a treatment plan tailored to an
individual’s genome and individualized to their needs. Personalised
medicine may allow for a better diagnosis, earlier intervention, and the
development of more efficient drugs and more targeted treatments
[13].
Diagnosis and
intervention
A more accurate diagnosis and more specific treatment plan can be
determined by assessing a patient on an individual basis. The process of
genotyping involves using biological tests to determine an individual’s
DNA sequence.
The genetic code of an individual can be compared with a reference
genome, like that of the Human Genome Project, to assess the occurrence
of existing genetic variations that may contribute to disease [14].
It is then possible to apply this information to effectively diagnose
and treat an individual. It is also important to know one’s genetic
make-up in order to determine how well they respond to a particular
treatment. Therefore, knowing their genetic content can change the type
of treatment they receive. Pharmacogenomics is one aspect of this, which
makes use of an individual’s genome to provide more customized and
informed drug prescriptions [15].
Diagnostic tests can guide therapy as part of a theranostic platform in
personalized medicine. Diagnostic tests can involve medical imaging,
such as MRI contrast agents,fluorescent markers, and nuclear imaging
agents (PET radiotracers or SPECT agents)[16], as well as in vitro
lab tests, with DNA sequencing of certain samples[17], along with
deep learning algorithms that weigh the results of tests for several
different biomarkers[18].
In order to test the effectiveness and safety of a drug, it is now
possible to run companion diagnostic tests specific to a patient group
or sub-group. In this case, it refers to a technology developed to
enhance the therapeutic treatment available to each individual based on
the results of an assay that is developed during or after a drug has
been released into the market[19]. These companion diagnostics have
incorporated pharmacogenomic information into the prescription label of
the drugs in order to assist the prescriber in making the most informed
and efficient treatment decision for the patient[19].