Over the past 100 years the human lifespan has doubled. This is true across both developed and developing countries. There are many, many reasons for this incredible improvement in human health, but the three key scientific
breakthroughs were vaccines, germ theory and antibiotics.The scientific advances which followed these discoveries in mean we now look to a future where our understanding of the role played by human genes, the environment and our lifestyle has transformed the very way we think of medicine and healthcare. The speed of these developments also means that how
and where life sciences operate may be very different. Welcome to the world of precision medicine.
The incredible journey
Precision medicine is a new approach to treating and preventing diseases, which considers the genetic makeup, environment and lifestyle of individuals. But to understand fully how far we have come and to truly appreciate the potential that precision medicine has to shape our future, we need to first
go back.The word medicine itself originates from the Latin words medicus (physician) and medicina(to heal). In fact, as far back as the first century BC a series
of eight books known as De Medicina had been published detailing the ancient Greek and Romans knowledge of medical practices, covering topics such
as diet, disease, fractures & dislocations. The publication follows the division of medicine at the time as established by Hippocrates diet, surgery and pharmacology.
Hippocrates’ legacy would have such an impact on the field of medicine that the ethical code known as The Hippocratic Oath has guided the practice of medicine throughout the world for over 2,000 years and is still used today.With the acceptance of germ theory (the understanding that germs cause disease) in the late 19th century, continued development of vaccines and
antibiotics, medicine had a new armoury of weapons to help drive treatments through the 20th century. These tools ultimately meant that common illnesses
and accidents no longer had to be fatal. But despite all these advances, the role of the doctor today still remains similar to what it would have been for centuries: examine patient’s symptoms, identify ailment and prescribe medication or treatment. Treating the symptoms and not the source.
Over time, blood tests could be ordered, or specialist consultation referred but it was our understanding of DNA, which has been the real game changer. Within 50 years of Watson and Crick discovering the double helix structure of our DNA, The Human Genome Project was completed. Scientists had sequenced the entire three billion letters of DNA, the code that makes us who we are. The gravity of what this will mean for the future of medicine and healthcare cannot be over emphasised.For many, progress has been slower than would have been hoped. But it was first necessary for fast, large-scale and low-cost DNA sequencing to become
available. That is now here. Commercial companies now offer complete sequencing of individuals’ genomes for a few hundred euros or pounds. When
you consider the original sequence cost billions, it starts to become clear how far the technology has come over the past twenty years. Image features DNA structure, courtesy of Bigstock
Why is it important now?
The advances in DNA sequencing technology, the ever-growing speed of computer systems and powerful DNA analysis software means that technology and science together can now realise the potential of DNA to improve
human health and wellbeing. Another factor, which will be key to advances in this field, is that precision medicine could potentially mean that effective
treatments reach patients faster, improving their prognosis and in turn saving money. The benefits of precision medicine are already starting to be seen in certain areas of healthcare. One such area is cancer treatment. When someone is diagnosed with a form of cancer, they are often placed on a drug, which has been used to treat other people suffering from the same cancer. However, this does not consider gene changes, which may occur between individuals. These gene changes mean that different people, although suffering from the same cancer, may have varying responses to the same drug. Precision medicine is now helping doctors select effective drugs across a range of common cancers.Another disease where precision medicine is currently being used is Cystic Fibrosis (CF). Doctors are now able to select the most suitable drug for each CF patient. Precision medicine is also becoming an essential part in pharmacogenomics, the study of how a person’s unique genetic makeup can dictate how they respond to certain medications. Having access to the genetic information from patients can inform not only on the suitability of the drug to the patients and their illness, but also the risk of adverse drug reactions (ADRs) and even the correct dosage and duration of treatment. There are even some who believe that access to affordable DNA sequencing, coupled with a greater understanding of our genome, could lead to precision
nutrition. Focusing on a person’s dietary intake and recognising that different people may respond differently to specific food and nutrients, precision nutrition aims to develop interventions to prevent or treat diseases based on our responses to what we eat.
Location is important
Without question the recent advances in life sciences and the power of modern computer systems is now bringing what once seemed impossible into touching distance. But in doing so, precision medicine will in turn lead to disruptions across the sector. Traditionally, life science companies established sites in science parks or science clusters, often located near academic research facilities. But the war for talent across the sector is leading to life science firms having to reassess their choice of locations.Attracting young talent domestically and internationally is key to the growth and success of the life science sector. In order to do this companies are starting to switch their attention to urban spaces as potential life science sites. The United States is admittedly ahead of Europe in this field and it is already seeing a marked shift in new lab spaces. In July 2021, The New York Times reported that across the six largest United States life science markets, 20 per cent of the lab spaces being built were office conversions. The Greater Boston and Cambridge area has already seen the available urban warehouse spaces being picked off and converted into lab
spaces.As fuel costs rise and sustainability becomes an even more important part
of companies’ focus into the future, urban lab spaces can reduce employees’ commute, and being located near financial and technological sector leaders
may also offer new opportunities for growth and collaboration. Additionally, the possibility of lab spaces in closer proximity to cultural and entertainment amenities should ensure easier access to talent moving from
higher-education into the workforce and potentially improve retention of staff.
The future has arrived
Many people believe that we have entered the Fourth Industrial Revolution, a time where the boundaries between the physical, digital & biological worlds become blurred. The speed of technological advancement is leading to disruption in work practices across almost every industry. Precision medicine is a clear example of the changes occurring in the life sciences
sector. Incredible advances in DNA technology over the past twenty years now mean that the fusion of this field with powerful computer systems is allowing medicine to move from a onesize-fits-all approach to a more personalised style of treatment.Future success of precision medicine will be reliant on attracting people across both biological and technological sectors into this field. To attract
top talent, location will be key.Although science parks on the outskirts of cities will always be necessary for large manufacturing sites, the type of work involved in precision medicine may see urban offices and lab spaces become more and more desirable. This shift has already begun in the life sciences sector across the United States. The question in Europe is this: which cities and countries will seize the opportunity by creating the environment and premises for precision medicine to grow?
