A recent study published in the journal Nature has identified more than 100 genes linked to the development of schizophrenia.
The results are the product of the largest genome study to ever be conducted on a psychiatric disorder, and could dramatically alter how schizophrenia drugs are developed and how the disease is treated.
According to an article on Psych Central:
“Current schizophrenia drugs treat only one of the symptoms of the disorder (psychosis), and do not help ease the devastating cognitive symptoms. In part, treatment options are limited because the biological mechanisms underlying the illness are not well understood.”
The new study has shed some significant light on the biology behind schizophrenia, identifying 83 previously-unknown locations in human genes associated with the risk of the disease.
The schizophrenia study is one of many advanced in the rapidly evolving medical and pharmaceutical sciences field, as increased efforts are being put towards clarifying the genetics behind many diseases.
Genomics, or the study of genetic material is booming, with the overall market posting a CAGR of 11.21 percent from 2013-2018. It is expected to be a strong basis for the discovery and development of diagnostics and therapies for a range of health conditions over the next few years.
Emerging Life Sciences Offering Exciting Glimpse into Our Genetics
Relatively new fields under the genomics umbrella, like single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) genotyping are allowing researchers to get up close and personal with what makes us tick.
In fact the Global SNP Genotyping and Analysis Market is growing at a CAGR of 20.65 percent from 2013-2018, partly due to the wide range of applications across several industries, including pharmaceuticals, diagnostics research, and even breeding livestock.
But by far one of the most exciting applications of SNP genotyping is pharmacogenomics and its use in personalized medicine.
Very basically, pharmacogenomics involves the study of genetic variations that influence an individual’s response to drugs, and is one of the crucial steps of personalized treatment.
Healthcare providers use this information in personalized medicine, to provide the right drug at a precise dose—a method that aims to be both more effective and lessen drug-related side effects.
Since SNP variations in the human genome could be responsible for influencing traits such as dissimilarities in drug metabolism, personalized medicine is quickly gaining popularity.
It minimizes time, cost, and failure rate of treatments and reduces trial-and-error inefficiencies. Pharmacogenomics is being increasingly used in the targeted treatment of cancer and genetic disorders and can provide advanced techniques that accurately predict the risk of a disease’s occurrence.
TechNavio has produced more than 3000 market research reports, including many on health sciences-related markets. Some recent titles include:
Global Single Nucleotide Polymorphism Genotyping and Analysis Market 2014-2018
CAGR: 20.65 percent from 2013-2018.
Market Drivers:
- Advances in Technology
- Increased Demand for Breeding and Animal Livestock
- Increasing Incidence of Genetic Diseases
- Growing Health Awareness and Demand for Improved Quality Healthcare
Key Vendors:
- Affymetrix Inc.
- F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd.
- Illumina Inc.
- Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc.
Global Genomics Market 2014-2018
CAGR: 11.21 percent from 2013-2018.
Market Drivers:
- Increase in Demand for Consumables
- Emergence of Personalized Medicine Industry
- Innovation
- Increase in Outsourcing Activities
Key Vendors:
- F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd.
- Illumina Inc.
- Life Technologies Corp.
- Qiagen NV
Global Medical Biosensors Market 2014-2018
CAGR: 10.16 percent from 2013-2018.
Market Drivers:
- Increase in Technological Innovations
- Increase in Aging Population
- Increase in Global Healthcare Spending
- Growing Incidence of Diabetes and Obesity
Key Vendors:
- Abbott Laboratories
- Bayer HealthCare AG
- LifeScan Inc.
- F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd.
