Medical Science – The Future

The medical world is witnessing massive scientific transformation – discoveries that are vividly progressing the ways of diagnosis and treatment. The fields of genomics, nanomedicine, micro biometrics/metabolomics, digital medicine, and others are growing exponentially, and organizations are leveraging data from them. The data comprises of insights from interoperable data and platforms assisted by deep learning, “always on” biosensors, and research that determines consumer beliefs and actions. Developments in medical science are being driven by momentous investment and research in government initiatives, biopharmaceutical corporations, tech titans and startups, and academic institutes—bringing new revolutions to the common people and driving more prognostic, preemptive, and personalized medicine.

Digital medicine

Digital medicine, evidence-based software and hardware that measure and intervene in the service of human health have made large strides in recent years. These products comprise of digital therapeutics, or regulated products that use software to provide evidence-based therapeutic interventions. Digital medicine also includes digital companions that provide added patient insights for improved experiences and knowledge. A few examples of digital medicine would be:

AppliedVR – Therapeutic virtual reality for pain management

The tech involves head-mounted devices that create an immersive experience to help overcome their pain and discomfort. Gamification enables patients to understand evidence-based pain management and mindfulness strategies. This tech is being successfully used for acute pain management and chronic pain management at home, like chronic lower back or fibromyalgia pain, for instance.

Digital companions

Digital companion products like ProAir® Digihaler® consist of sensor-laden albuterol dispenser pump that treat and prevent obstructive airway diseases. The dispenser uses Bluetooth to send the inhaler event data that it records, to the companion mobile app. The data in the app helps patients with inhaler techniques and observance. With patient permission, the app can share data with their provider to provide treatment decisions and care management.

Nanomedicine

Nanomedicine is the development and protection of human health using molecular tools, or nanotechnology. Capable applications comprise: ● Targeted drug delivery – nanorobots to sense and repair contagions and body damages ● Measured protein and peptide delivery ● Gene therapy – the appearance of a flawed gene may be reformed and adjusted The pharma industry companies are engineering new-fangled molecules at nano-scale. For instance, NaNotics, a nanomedicine corporation, builds subtractive nanoparticles to eliminate definite disease-causing molecules from the body. Patients are injected with NaNots to control cellular behavior by reducing specific signal molecules without upsetting normal cell signaling.

Genomics

Genomics have begun to significantly redefine health care. The entire human genome was sequenced 15 years ago after decades of research and billions of dollars invested; today, a human’s DNA can be sequenced for a few hundred dollars in about one day. Sequencing DNA can help identify a predisposition to specific diseases providing with deeper knowledge, and effective personalized therapies. Application areas include genetic testing, cancer diagnosis and therapy, gene editing, etc. Genetic sequencing is also being used on the coronavirus genome to understand how it mutates. This has immensely helped in improving COVID-19 vaccines to respond better to emerging variants.

mRNA vaccines and therapies

Vaccine developers are using a variety of technologies and techniques—from the tried and tested to completely novel approaches— to battle COVID-19 and prevent severe disease, hospitalization, and COVID-related death. The first vaccine to receive emergency use authorization in the US was a first-in-class synthetic messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccine, making RNA a household term. As background, DNA and RNA are the two naturally occurring varieties of nucleic acids, which are the main information-carrying molecules in our cells. DNA houses the genetic instructions needed by the human body’s cells to make proteins. mRNA is the intermediate messenger that interprets instructions from nucleic acid into protein. The mRNA transports the protein-encoding DNA information from the nucleus to the cytoplasm, and kindles the cell machinery to make completely functional proteins. Discoveries made two decades ago confirmed that synthetic mRNA molecules can be used to send genetic information to the translational machinery and generate the encoded proteins. RNA technology can be used for:

Replacement therapy:​​​​​​​ mRNA is administered to a patient to compensate for defective gene/proteins, or to provide for therapeutic proteins.

Vaccines: mRNA encoding specific antigen(s) are directed to produce protective immunity.

Cell therapy: mRNA is transferred into the cells to alter cell function, and these altered cells are later administered to the patient. Today, most mRNA-based therapeutics are used as vaccines against communicable diseases like COVID-19, and develop bespoke cancer vaccines.

Artificial intelligence and big data

While novel research and drug findings have resulted in several life-saving and life-enhancing clinical treatments, it is also lengthy, expensive, and often futile processes. AI-enabled solutions and AI applications in drug discovery are renovating these processes and empowering the development of more accurate and targeted treatments in months, rather than years. AI-enabled solutions can help in identifying new biologics such as therapeutic antibodies against cancer, fibrosis, etc. Pharma giants have started implementing advanced AI/ML to understand, categorize, and extrapolate biomedical data, decode multifaceted disease biology, and discover new therapeutic involvements. AI-led solutions today are capable of solving the “protein folding problem,” an innovation that could resolve one of biology’s biggest trials and enable better understanding of diseases and drug discoveries.