Precision medicine is reshaping oncology, according to GlobalData, which notes that considering aspects such as a patient’s environment and genetics will provide physicians with a more holistic view of patient requirements. The leading data and analytics company highlights that, since cancer is incredibly variable, the advancement and use of precision medicine is vital in addressing rising cancer cases.
Precision medicine involves the customization of medicine for each patient based on their environment, genetic background, and lifestyle. Currently, most healthcare plans are under a ‘one size fits all’ approach, which may help some individuals but hinders the progress of others.
Precision medicine to address rising global cancer cases
According to research by GlobalData’s pharma team, the number of non-small cell lung cancer cases, in the 16MM*, is predicted to rise from 1.17 million cases in 2022 to 1.41 million in 2029. Additionally, in the 16MM, colorectal cancer cases are expected to rise from 1.38 million in 2022 to 1.74 million in 2031. Due to these rising numbers, there is a need for improved diagnostic, treatment, and prevention technologies within precision medicine that use aspects such as next-generation sequencing (NGS) and artificial intelligence (AI) to offer better treatment options.
Selena Yu, Medical Analyst at GlobalData, says: “Precision medicine in oncology allows physicians to diagnose patients sooner, create better treatment plans, and instil improved preventive measures in our healthcare systems. Rising cancer cases is a concern that needs to be addressed quickly, and a digital response would result in more efficient treatment plans and a greater understanding of the disease.
AI in precision medicine increases efficiency when choosing a treatment plan.
Recently, companies have been developing exciting new technologies to improve cancer care. For example, Excientia is using AI in the healthcare sector within its precision medicine platform to screen drugs ex vivo in cancer patient tumour tissues. The platform is designed to allow physicians to determine which drugs are the most efficient for their patients without the need for trial and error.
Yu continues: “AI can generate insights to help clinicians in decision-making through genome interpretation and image analysis. By incorporating patient-specific data, outside of symptoms, into AI-led treatment planning, certain therapeutics would be disqualified due to patient incompatibility. These discrepancies might not have been known without AI. Therefore, with technology like Exscientia AI platform, patients would receive the most compatible and efficient drug combinations to combat cancer. This efficiency would lessen the burden of the disease on not only the patient and their family but also the healthcare system.”
* 16MM: Includes the countries Australia, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Russia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, United Kingdom, the US, and Urban China.
