Although the standard of care for a disease (when one exists) generally has a well-established track record, it’s a one-size-fits-all remedy that may not be the best option for some patients. Medicine is entering a new era of personalization and the number of trials targeting specific subsets of patient populations continues to rise. The definition of “personalized medicine” or “precision medicine” varies, and can refer to an approach that incorporates insights on environmental and behavioral factors, in addition to a patient’s biology or genome, while informing disease treatment or prevention.
Some have a more specific view – personalized medicine leverages genetic profiles of patients to create tailored, more targeted interventions to better treat or prevent their conditions. This analysis will...