Perspective: Does personalized medicine hold the future for medicine?

Abstract

In the fast advancing era of Genomic and Molecular medicine, stakeholders are inevitably inclining to specificity in the practice of medicine. Patient satisfaction on disease management is centered on the demand for drug therapies to be more effective with reduced incident of adverse effects to ensure improved quality of life. Physicians are also welcoming therapies which will result in definite cure and minimize trial-and-error diagnosis and treatment. In addition, medical practice is accepting the molecular and genetic basis of assessing disease risk factors and preventive mechanisms. Pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies are also advancing in drug development pathways, which are quicker with much predictive outcomes in order to save time and money. Regulatory authorities are also being pressured to approve drug therapies with minimum adverse reactions and increase efficacy. Government agencies and healthcare agencies have also developed an interest in more precise treatments in order to prevent expenditure on ineffective dugs which will lengthen patients' morbidity span and incur more health bills. In conclusion, although conventional medicine cannot be totally ruled out, it is evident that PM is shaping the future of medicine and stands a promising chance of overtaking conventional medicine in the future.