The differential clinical value provided by precision medicine is that it provides patients with a specific and personalized therapy based on the genetic alteration presenting your disease[2]. These mutations can be detected through various genetic tests that require a tumor biopsy, a liquid biopsy, or taking a blood sample.
Starting from recognizing that each patient is unique and that individual differences in their genes, environments, and lifestyles influence diagnosis, treatment efficacy, prognosis, and manifestation of adverse effects[3]precision medicine is committed to providing the right treatment, to the right patient, at the right time, thus opening a horizon of possibilities to exponentially improve the lives of cancer patients[4].
This paradigm shift, where we don’t target the average patient, but instead engage with each patient individually based on their needs, has allowed us to discover and deliver treatment options that have been shown to better response rate, extension of survival, and better levels of safety and tolerability compared to standard therapies[5].
Innovation that provides differential value
Contributing to the development of precision medicine not only directly impacts people’s lives, but also brings efficiency and value to the healthcare systemsince it helps to avoid ineffective treatments, supporting a more effective management of health care resources.
In oncology, the ineffectiveness of unguided therapies is much more apparent compared to other conditions. In fact, it is estimated that standard therapies may be ineffective in up to 75% of cases.[6], which represents a waste of time and options for the patient, in addition to demanding unnecessary resources from the health system. In this sense, personalized treatment means less hospitalization, less adverse effects and less pressure on the health system[7].
Although there are some treatment options for different types of cancer, it is essential that different and innovative therapeutic alternatives continue to reach the market to meet the individual needs and different profiles of patients, allowing them to continue living a health without pause.
Director of Medical Affairs for Janssen Latin America South
[1] Precision medicine: Achieving the vision of personalized health outcomes. https://www.janssen.com/es/precision-medicine-janssen-diagnostics/overview. Consulted in November 2020
[2] National Cancer Institute. Precision medicine in cancer treatment. Available in https://www.cancer.gov/espanol/cancer/treatment/types/precision-medicine. Last access: December 2020
[3] What is Precision Medicine – US National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health, https://medlineplus.gov/genetics/understanding/precisionmedicine/definition/ Last accessed: December 2020.
[4] Advancement of precision medicine research. National Cancer Institute. Available at: https://www.cancer.gov/espanol/cancer/tratamiento/tipos/medicina-de-precision#6 Last access: January 2021
[5] Siefker-Radtke A, et al. Presented at the ASCO Annual Meeting 2018, Chicago, IL. Abstract 4503 Available in https://ascopubs.org/doi/abs/10.1200/JCO.2018.36.15_suppl.4503 Last access: December 2020.
[6] Spear BB, Heath-Chiozzi M, Huff J. Clinical application of pharmacogenetics. Trends Mol Med. 2001;7(5):201-4
[7] The benefits of personalized medicine to patients, society and healthcare systems. Charles River Associates for the European Biopharmaceutical Enterprises (EBE) and the European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations (EFPIA). Available at: https://www.efpia.eu/media/362040/cra-ebe-efpia-benefits-of-pm-final-report-6-july-2018.pdf
Source: Ambito
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