Establishing links with Japan in personalised medicine

Establishing links with Japan in personalised medicine

Professor Dyfrig Hughes, co-Director of the Centre for Health Economics and Medicines Evaluation, was among 7 UK delegates invited by the British Embassy in Tokyo, to participate in a workshop on personalised medicine.  Organised by the Science and Innovation section of the Embassy and with the support of the UK Government’s Global Partnership Fund, the workshop aimed to strengthen collaboration between the UK and Japan to establish long-term, sustainable relationships in science and innovation research & development.

“Personalised medicine is the concept that medicines may be tailored to individual patients’ genetics”, explained Professor Hughes. “Some patients are susceptible to adverse drug reactions, or fail to achieve the desired therapeutic benefit. Genetic tests which identify these patients are becoming increasingly available, and allow doctors to prescribe alternative medicines.”

The opening session, by Sir David Warren, British Ambassador for Japan, was followed by a series of presentations from UK and Japanese researchers. Professor Hughes’ presentation focused on the economic implications of genetic tests and, using examples from his work, illustrated how decision-makers require information on the cost-effectiveness of tests for their use to be endorsed by the NHS. Professor Sir Bruce Ponder, Director of the Cancer Research UK Cambridge Research Institute, concluded the workshop with suggestions for future collaborations.

http://ukinjapan.fco.gov.uk/en/news/?view=News&id=727907182

Publication date: 27 February 2012