In a pioneering move toward personalized medicine, the Asian Institute of Gastroenterology (AIG) Hospitals has launched a new initiative that enables doctors to prescribe medicines tailored to an individual’s genetic make-up, marking a significant shift from conventional, one-size-fits-all prescriptions.
At the heart of this initiative lies pharmacogenomics — the branch of science that studies how a person’s genetic makeup affects their response to medications. By integrating pharmacogenomic insights into clinical practice, doctors can predict drug efficacy and safety more accurately, minimizing adverse effects and improving treatment outcomes.
This innovation aims to ensure that patients receive medications genetically suited to their bodies, improving recovery outcomes and reducing the risk of avoidable side effects.
The initiative is based on a study conducted by AIG Hospitals involving nearly 2,000 patients, which revealed striking findings.
“It showed around 30 per cent of the participants were taking drugs that were genetically unsuitable for them, which leads to either poor recovery outcomes or avoidable adverse reactions,” said Dr. D. Nageshwar Reddy, Chairman, AIG Hospitals.
The study further highlighted that one in three patients might be on medications that do not align with their genetic profile.
“By introducing this test at an affordable cost, we aim to make precision medicine a part of routine healthcare, while also creating a foundation for large-scale genomic and translational research in India,” added Dr. Reddy.
To implement this initiative, AIG Hospitals has partnered with GenepoweRx, a genomics and AI-driven healthcare company. The genetic test, performed only once in a lifetime, analyzes an individual’s DNA to determine how their body metabolizes and responds to commonly prescribed medications for heart disease, diabetes, cancer, gastrointestinal conditions, neurological and psychiatric disorders, and pain management.
While similar genomic tests in Western countries cost upwards of ₹80,000, AIG Hospitals is offering the service at a much more affordable ₹5,000, making precision medicine accessible to a wider population in India.
