What happens when you make it personal: Lu's comment

So the pharma landscape continues to evolve. It’s interesting to witness the changes taking place, many of them using technology to improve the way medicine and drugs are administered, monitored and prescribed

We can’t escape the personal at the moment. Personalised medicine has attracted much attention over the last year with cost savings and improved patient outcomes being put forward as examples of the benefits it can offer. Recent reports have highlighted its potential role in the treatment of cancer as researchers have found that the genetic makeup of tumours means we could soon see treatment tailor-made for individual patients.

While there is still much work to be done in this field its benefits could be far-reaching. Oxford Economics recently carried out research into the way that the healthcare and pharmaceutical sectors across Europe and North America were facilitating the movement of personalised medicine. The results were interesting, with two-thirds of those surveyed saying it is having a measurable effect on patient outcomes.

While we still need to make headway in certain areas –data sharing, building IT capabilities and fine-tuning business models – the scope for personalised medicine and the positive effects it can have on all our health is immense.

This new area of medicine is also having an effect on the drug delivery market. As personalised medicine becomes an increasingly popular treatment at point of care, it is likely that drug delivery devices will need to be manufactured nearby. Ricky Wildman, University of Nottingham, offers an insight into the evolving role that 3D printing will play on page 8. It’s an exciting development and one which throws up opportunities for the 3D printing and drug delivery sectors.

Digital health, we know, has a key role to playing the pharmaceutical sector and here too the idea of personalised treatment is becoming a major topic, improving healthcare for patient, professional as well as the pharmaceutical supply chain. Not only are devices becoming increasingly sophisticated and improving user experience but are helping place significant emphasis on adherence. The development of digital medicines has seen this topic take centre stage as has digitally engaging the patient via apps and wearables. With the ultimate goal of preventing disease and monitoring treatment and medication, the personal digital experience is really starting to gain momentum.

It’s great to witness the concept of the personal taking on public awareness. The idea that we have to take responsibility for our own health and well-being is nothing new. But the opportunity for treatment, devices and care to be tailor-made to our own needs and genetic make-up is highly interesting. The patient and the patient’s role in treatment is becoming a central theme. Personal medicine, devices and healthcare are big news for everyone involved in the process. The future looks very exciting indeed.