COVER STORY
diagnostics , and drug discovery .
One of the most promising areas is precision medicine , where pharmaceutical companies can use genomic insights to develop drugs tailored to Indian genetic profiles . Many treatments today are designed based on Western genetic datasets , which may not be fully effective for Indian patients due to genetic variability . By leveraging IndiGen data , drug developers can create more effective and safer medications , especially for prevalent conditions such as diabetes , cardiovascular diseases , and cancer . Pharmacogenomics — studying how genes affect a person ’ s response to drugs — can help optimize treatment plans , reducing adverse drug reactions and improving
patient outcomes .
Helen Speirs of Illumina believes population genomics provides a platform for industry engagement and investment , specifically in the pharmaceutical , biotechnology , and data sectors . “ By integrating large , diverse data sets and using advanced computing technology ( such as artificial intelligence or machine learning ), health systems and partners are optimally positioned to unlock the power of the genome even further , while improving quality of life and care and fostering economic growth . This data could support drug companies to more effective medicine discovery and provide insights into how genomic variations influence drug efficacy
20
BioVoiceNews | February 2025