Precision Medicine: Transforming Healthcare Through Genetics and AI

Kang-Yun Lee, Executive Vice President of Taipei Medical University, inaugurated the session by highlighting the transformative impact of genetics and precision medicine on healthcare. He emphasized the role of personalized treatment based on individual genetic profiles in addressing inherited diseases and oncology. He also noted the importance of understanding the exposome—the collective environmental factors influencing diseases—to tailor interventions for more effective outcomes and improved quality of life.

Development of Peptide-Based PPI Inhibitor Targeting Breast Cancer

Dr. Toyomasa Katagiri, Director of National Institutes of Biomedical Innovation, Health, and Nutrition, presented his work on developing a peptide-based protein-protein interaction (PPI) inhibitor targeting the BIG3-PHB2 complex in breast cancer. This inhibitor, named ELAP, disrupts the interaction between BIG3 and PHB2, thereby reactivating PHB2’s tumor suppressor functions. The modified version, DST-ELAP, has shown promising results in preclinical trials, offering a potential new therapeutic strategy for hormone receptor-positive and tamoxifen-resistant breast cancers.

Precision Medicine in Oncology – Today and the Future

John Jiang, Senior Director of Medical & Scientific Affairs in Illumina, discussed the evolution and future of precision medicine in oncology, emphasizing the role of next-generation sequencing (NGS) in identifying genomic biomarkers for targeted therapies. He highlighted the dramatic improvements in patient outcomes due to targeted treatments and the growing importance of comprehensive genomic profiling (CGP) in clinical decision-making. Dr. Jiang also noted the challenges in turnaround time for genetic testing and the potential of AI in enhancing diagnostic efficiency.

Development of Precision Respiratory Medicine for Chronic Inflammation and Infection

Professor Kazuhiro Ito from Imperial College London explored advancements in precision respiratory medicine, particularly for chronic inflammation and infections such as asthma, COPD, and respiratory infections. He stressed the need for tailored treatments based on molecular mechanisms and highlighted the role of AI in patient selection and clinical trial design. Professor Ito also discussed novel delivery systems for respiratory drugs and the importance of environmental factors in respiratory health.

Legal Considerations in Precision Medicine

Song-Mei Shiong, Partner of DTT Attorneys at Law, provided insights into the legal aspects of precision medicine, emphasizing the importance of IP management. She shared a case of a Korean professor sentenced for inadvertently sharing trade secrets and stressed the need for researchers to be aware of their institution’s IP policies. Shiong also discussed the patentability of precision medicine technologies in Taiwan and the integration of IP management into corporate governance evaluations.

Panel Discussion

Moderated by Dr. Teh-Ying Chou, the panel included Dr. John Jiang, Professor Kazuhiro Ito, and Song-Mei Shiong. They discussed the role of AI in precision medicine, the importance of quick diagnostic turnaround times, and strategies for effective IP management. The discussion also touched on the future of precision oncology and the potential of AI in streamlining clinical trials and patient care.

The session concluded with a group photo and a reminder of the collaborative efforts needed to advance precision medicine. The experts underscored the critical role of genetics, AI, and legal frameworks in shaping the future of personalized healthcare.

Author

Oscar Wu