The Benefits of Precision Medicine

As the world looks for more innovative and effective ways to combat many of the diseases and ailments that plague our planet today, medical science is gradually moving into more personalized spheres when it comes to the medications offered to people.

Today, the vast majority of people receive treatment based on their symptoms and diagnosis and large groups of people are given the same medication to treat the same disease. However, this blanket approach to treatment is rapidly changing and medications designed for individual patients are on the horizon.

This ‘precision medicine’, sometimes referred to as ‘personalized medicine’, is already a $539 billion industry, and its global market size is predicted to grow at an annual rate of 7.20% until 2030. This article will take a closer look at precision medicine and the benefits it can offer.

What Is Precision Medicine?

Medicine in this digital age we live in has already made huge strides in terms of treatment options and patient outcomes. Many pharmacies such as compounding pharmacy Salt Lake City now offer patients specialty medications that are used to target complex, rare, or chronic illnesses. Similarly, precision medications focus on targeted treatments for individual patients but use an individual’s unique genetic profile to offer them a more precise and customized form of treatment.

Precision medicine is based on the science of “genomics,” which is the study of an individual’s genetic makeup. This information can aid healthcare professionals in moving beyond the traditional universal approach to prescribing medicine and instead, tailor it to suit individuals’ unique genetic characteristics.

Benefits of Precision Medicine

• Targeted results: Currently, the same medications are given to people to target the same health problems. However, not everyone responds to them in the same way, and for some, the results are less effective. Since precision medicine is based on a patient’s unique genetic profile, it is much more likely to be effective for all patients, improving results for more people.
• Fewer side effects: Some people experience adverse side effects, allergies, or other negative reactions from the medications they are prescribed. With precision medicine, the likelihood of side effects is greatly reduced as the medicine each patient is given is specifically tailored to suit their genetic profile.
• Less trial and error prescribing: Patients often need to try different medications before the most suitable one is found. This not only takes time, during which the patient’s condition can deteriorate but can also create unwanted side effects and cost money from prescribing multiple medications. Precision medicine eliminates the need for trial and error, resulting in cost savings and an overall better experience for the patient.
• Disease detection: With precision medicine, medical professionals can make better decisions regarding their patient’s health and treatment options. For example, by using information from their genetic profile, they can determine a patient’s susceptibility to a particular disease and put together a customized treatment plan to address this. By detecting the risk of disease before any symptoms appear, precision medicine also shifts attention to prevention rather than reaction.

As shown above, the arrival of precision medicine has the potential to revolutionize the world of healthcare and the lives of patients all over the world.