Abstract

In the era of a fully mapped genome, continued personalization of pharmaceutical and diagnostics development can only accelerate. Personalized/precision medicine’s aim is tailored treatments – the right treatment, for the right patient, at the right time. However, the high cost of developing therapies for small populations, coupled with the costs of developing the companion diagnostic tests forces manufacturers to recoup development costs through increased prices across smaller volumes. Balancing affordability and access may jeopardize precision medicine’s promising future. This article examines these issues while asking – can we ensure access to these therapies while also sustaining innovation?