The success of any precision medicine program depends on the quality of the target it pursues. A well-validated genetic target shapes everything downstream: which patients are eligible, how trials are designed, and whether therapies reach the right populations. For clinical operations and development teams, understanding how genetic data informs target discovery is not an academic exercise. It is the foundation on which recruitment strategies, eligibility criteria, and enrollment feasibility are built.
Long COVID, affecting nearly 28% of COVID-19 survivors, is a multifaceted condition that extends well beyond its initial impact. Typical include fatigue, concentration difficulties, and shortness of breath – but researchers have identified more than 200 symptoms associated with long COVID. It remains a global health puzzle, but research is paving the way for a deeper understanding and improved treatments.
In the ever-evolving landscape of clinical trial recruitment, an omnichannel approach is becoming increasingly crucial to ensure a diverse and engaged participant pool. This approach involves the integration of various outreach methods to reach potential participants through traditional methods, digital channels, patient advocacy groups, patient databases, and more. Each of these approaches has its pros and cons, offering unique opportunities and challenges to recruit participants effectively. Understanding these benefits and disadvantages can help researchers put together a perfectly blended omnichannel approach.
When an individual undergoes genetic testing, they often expect to find definitive answers about their genes. However, around 20% of genetic tests identify variants of uncertain significance (VUS). These genetic variants leave researchers and patients with more questions than answers.
A 2015 study published in Nature found that by harnessing genetic data to support the selection of candidate drugs, researchers could double their success rates. Given that only around 10% of clinical programs ultimately result in an approved drug, this has significant implications for how trials are designed and executed. Using genetic data can meaningfully improve success rates in drug development.
Clinical trials drive medical progress, but most are constrained by the same bottleneck: patient recruitment. Despite decades of investment in trial infrastructure, the gap between enrollment targets and actual accrual remains one of the most persistent risks in clinical development.
In the ever-evolving world of healthcare and pharmaceuticals, researchers are constantly seeking ways to make drug development more efficient and effective. Sano’s new report, “Why are drug targets with genetic evidence twice as likely to succeed in trials?” sheds light on the use of genetic evidence to significantly increase the success rates of drugs in clinical trials, offering a glimpse into the future of personalised medicine.
Genetic data is now central to how drugs are discovered, developed, and brought to patients. For teams designing precision medicine programs, understanding where this data originates is not just a scientific question. It is a strategic one. The source, quality, and accessibility of genetic data directly shape target identification, patient stratification, and trial design decisions. This article examines the major sources of genetic data used in drug discovery, from foundational genomic databases and sequencing technologies to biobanks, population studies, and functional genomics tools.
In the world of healthcare, genetics is ushering in a new era of personalised insights that are transforming how we approach healthcare. Our latest report, “The Genetic testing landscape: A look at the modern approach and the value of sponsored programs,” offers a valuable exploration of the evolving genetic testing landscape.
In the fast-paced world of medical research, patient advocacy groups have emerged as powerful drivers of change. One critical ingredient in their recipe for success is patient registries. These tools offer a direct relationship between patients and researchers, propelling medical advancements and accelerating the search for better treatments. Our newly released whitepaper, titled "Connecting communities: Engaging patients in registries for long-term impact," shares strategies and insights for patient advocacy groups that want to create impactful patient registries.