Today's Medical News From Newspapers, TV, Radio and the Journals.

 Prepared exclusively
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Customized Briefing for Dr. Jarir Nakouzi

Personalized medicine inspires hope despite numerous obstacles.

In a front-page article, the New York Times (12/30, A1, Pollack), reports, "Experts say that most drugs, whatever the disease, work for only about half the people who take them," which means that "not only is much of the nation's approximately $300 billion annual drug spending wasted, but countless patients are being exposed unnecessarily to side effects." Therefore, there is a lot of "hope...riding on the promise of 'personalized medicine,' in which genetic screening and other tests give doctors more evidence for tailoring treatments to patients." But, "for all the potential, experts see some formidable obstacles on the path to the promised land of personalized medicine," including "drugmakers, which can be reluctant to develop or encourage tests that may limit the use of their drugs," and the fact that "insurers may not pay for tests, which can cost up to a few thousand dollars." Still, "despite all the obstacles, personalized medicine is coming."