Q. What is the potential impact of genetic research on new medicines in Europe today?

A. Genetic research is critical to the development of biotechnology-based diagnostics to better diagnose disease and provide new ways to match medicine doses and treatments to the individual.

In addition to providing effective methods for appropriate diagnosis, the results of genetic research can offer new medicines and treatments that target more effectively the cause of the disease, rather than just the symptoms, leading to a more effective way of treating a disease.   

Potentially, the use of genetic research could revolutionise the effectiveness of treatments, allowing for a more specific diagnosis, treated with medicines that are tailored to respond to the disease.  This revolution will be most effective against diseases that are genetic in origin, such as cancer, multiple sclerosis, diabetes, cardio vascular diseases etc.

A great example of how genetic research is making a difference is in a surgery to reverse blindness in young people.  Genetic research that began in 1985 has resulted in a process by which a healthy copy of a defective gene is placed directly on the retina, allowing for the regaining of sight in the blind.  To learn more about this treatment, pleas see the report "Gene therapy gives hope to the blind".

In Europe today, biotech medicines are estimated to account for approximately 20% of all marketed medicines and represent 50% of all medicines in the pipeline.  As more genetic information is made available targeted treatments are the expected result.  

For more information on how biotech treatments are already making a difference, please see www.bioimpact.org