The disruptive nature of personalized medicine technologies: implications for the health care system.

Genomics technologies, notwithstanding rising complexity and low productivity to date, once translated to clinical care, promise significantly improved outcomes through cost-effective interventions and prevention. But, along the way, every business model and every stakeholder group will be challenged to adapt to the disruptions that will arise as our health care system seeks to embrace those technologies. This paper identifies many of the key issues and stakeholders to be directly effected, including payers, providers, and suppliers. An even greater challenge faces public policy makers if these technologies are to be optimized. Many of these issues are raised as well. Finally, the point is made that the greatest barriers are not necessarily raised by stakeholders but rather arise from the deepening complexity of the science itself, requiring a long-term, large, and consistent research commitment from both the public and private sectors - a commitment made harder by the indisputable need to reform the current health care system. Copyright 2009 S. Karger AG, Basel.