Royal Pharmaceutical Society

Getting the right medicines to the right patient - the importance of precision

By Professor Gino Martini, CEO, Precision Health Technology Accelerator (PHTA)

We used to say: medicine shouldn't treat patients with a ‘one size fits all’ mindset; that treatments should consist of the right drug, at the right dose, at the right time, and at the right cost.

Which is not quite correct.

In actual fact, treatments should deliver the right drug, at the right dose, at the right time, at the right cost, and to the right patient.

Our understanding of molecular biology and the use of predictive diagnostics has now advanced to the point where, in certain diseases, such as cancer, and cardiovascular disease, we can predict if that patient will respond to treatment. We're now in an era of patient stratification, i.e. segmenting patients into those who will respond to treatment and those who will not respond.

Having moved from ‘one size fits all’ medicine, we're now looking at precision medicine, where Pharmacists, as medicines' experts, play an increasingly vital role. That's the reason I was delighted to support the Royal Pharmaceutical Society with its Science and Research Summit on the subjects of Precision Medicine and Digital Health.

The Summit, on Friday 24 June, will be a great opportunity to join key opinion leaders and hear them talk about precision medicine and the future for pharmacists. It's also a fantastic chance to network with experts in these fields (and others!) and, of course, to catch up with old colleagues and friends.

If you're a pharmacist or a pharmaceutical scientist like myself, I would encourage you to attend, and support our growing role in the field of precision medicine.

Find out more information and book your place to attend the RPS Science and Research Summit

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