India enters new era of personalised medicine driven by biotechnology and genomics

India is stepping into an era of personalised medicine underpinned by breakthroughs in genomics, artificial intelligence (AI), and biotechnology, announced Jitendra Singh, Minister of Science and Technology, Earth Sciences, and Minister of State for Atomic Energy and Space in the Prime Minister’s Office. The statement was released by the Press Information Bureau of India.

The minister highlighted that India’s population offers unique opportunities for genomic research due to its vast genetic diversity. Under the Genome India initiative, the genomes of 10,000 citizens have already been sequenced, with a long-term goal of reaching one million genomes. This data is expected to enable more precise disease diagnosis, risk prediction, and personalised treatment planning.

Jitendra Singh emphasised that the future of medicine will rely on integrating multi-omics technologies – genomics (analysis of the full set of genes), transcriptomics (study of all RNA molecules in a cell), and proteomics (identification and quantification of proteins) – with artificial intelligence. This approach will allow physicians to develop tailored treatment regimens based on individual genetic profiles and create customised therapeutics.

“In the future, medicines will be developed individually, taking into account the specific characteristics of each patient,” he stated.

On emerging research directions, the minister noted that scientists at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences and the Department of Space Research are studying biological responses in microgravity conditions, with insights expected to improve healthcare on Earth.

India ranks third in the Asia-Pacific region for biomanufacturing and is among the world’s leading players in the sector. The country is actively developing supporting infrastructure, including building biofactories, establishing biomanufacturing clusters, and launching Bio-NEST incubators to support startups by mitigating early-stage risks.