Research and Markets: The Future of Molecular Diagnostics: Innovative Technologies Driving Market Opportunities in Personalized Medicine

DUBLIN--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/f6724e/the_future_of_mole) has announced the addition of the "The Future of Molecular Diagnostics: Innovative Technologies Driving Market Opportunities in Personalized Medicine" report to their offering.

“The Future of Molecular Diagnostics: Innovative Technologies Driving Market Opportunities in Personalized Medicine”

Molecular diagnostics, essentially the analysis of DNA and RNA at the molecular level, is a fast-growing business, made possible by the growing understanding of the human genome, which has spurred growth in the diagnostic business. Given the established importance of DNA in molecular biology and its central role in determining the fundamental operation of cellular processes, molecular diagnostics is making it possible to detect infectious disease and cancer more accurately at an earlier stage than before. The technology also is optimizing testing for sexually transmitted diseases and genetic testing. Molecular diagnostics is also addressing the need for tests that monitor the therapeutic efficacy of pharmaceuticals. In this way, it has evolved into an important business opportunity for in-vitro diagnostics makers.

Molecular diagnostics is expanding beyond just the identification of infections. It is becoming an integral part of disease management and therapy, finding such applications as patient stratification, drug regimen selection, toxicity avoidance, therapeutic monitoring, and detection of predisposition to disease. Hospitals and diagnostic laboratories using molecular diagnostic techniques need products that guarantee the highest levels of reliability and the greatest speed. Reliability is essential, because an inaccurate or missed diagnosis can be a matter of life and death. Another issue driving the need for new molecular diagnostics involves the ability of microorganisms to evade and even inactivate potent antibiotics, causing health care givers to be faced with substantial infectious disease challenges. The variety of technologies used in molecular diagnostics has transformed clinical laboratory medicine.

Key features of this report

Explanation of how molecular diagnostics represents a business opportunity for the IVD industry. What is causing this growth increasing diagnostic efficiency, optimizing treatment with drugs.
Evaluation of the drivers and trends behind the growth of molecular diagnostic show the science and technology of molecular diagnostics is becoming more important to clinical labs and drug companies with its increasing sensitivity and new platform technologies.
Key challenges facing molecular diagnostic manufacturers and those companies looking to enter the market: The need for developing simple to use, automated products; dealing with a complex regulator environment; gaining access to financing and innovation.
Analysis of markets by key types of testing, products, and by country; analysis showing the top products and opportunities.

Key findings from this report

Two important growth drivers in the clinical setting for molecular diagnostics include the need for new biomarker assays as well as for techniques that lower the cost per test, and which improve ease of use, data quality and turnaround time.
Pharmacogenomics may be the most immediate new opportunity in the field. The ability or inability to metabolize a drug is genetically determined. Laboratories will be able to test an individual for variations in particular drug response genes. The test results would help the physician prescribe the right drug at the right dose in a regimen specifically tailored to that individual, maximizing the chances of therapeutic success. Pharmacogenomics offers the potential for reducing the average cost of developing a new drug, now well over $1bn.
By far, most of the established market for molecular diagnostics lies in the North American region. The market is building in Europe, but is still at relatively an early stage in the rest of the world (Table 4.3) and (Figure 4.7). Geographically, the US and European markets are the most advanced in terms of adoption of molecular testing and make up the majority of the existing market.
In the current market for HPV, only about 20% of women over the age of 30 are screened for HPV using DNA-based tests in conjunction with a standard Pap smear, which leaves a lot of room for market growth.
Screening of blood products for HIV has largely eliminated transmission through blood transfusions or infected blood products in the developed world. From its discovery in 1981 until 2006, AIDS has killed more than 25m people. HIV infects about 0.6% of the world's population. In 2005 alone, AIDS claimed an estimated 2.4m to 3.3m lives, of which more than 570,000 were children. Molecular based technologies enable the sensitive identification of pathogens within a few hours, and quantitative techniques are particularly valuable in the management of chronic viral infections caused by HCV and HIV, when an assessment of viral load can be used to guide therapy and prognosis.

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