Personalized Medicine: A Perk of Privilege?

Advances in molecular testing and genomic technology offer promise in helping identify people at risk of developing disease and those most (or least) likely to benefit from risk reduction and treatment strategies. Yet not all of those who are eligible for such technologies have access to the benefits of these advances. Given the inequities in our health‐care system, there is no assurance that expanding research into molecular and genomic testing will benefit everyone equally. Moreover, widespread adoption of new and emerging technologies poses challenges for an already overtaxed health‐care system. Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics (2009); 86, 1, 21–23 doi:10.1038/clpt.2009.75