Perspectives on a way forward to implementation of precision medicine in patients with diabetic kidney disease; results of a stakeholder consensus-building meeting

Abstract

This study aimed to identify from different stakeholders the benefits and obstacles of implementing precision medicine in diabetic kidney disease (DKD) and to build consensus about a way forward in order to treat, prevent, or even reverse this disease.Implementing precision medicine is one solution to tackle the high unmet need of new DKD treatment. A clear definition of precision medicine and its different components and requirements is needed to warrant all stakeholders’ commitment and to implement precision medicine successfully. Stakeholders in the drug development trajectory for DKD indicated that there are still many obstacles that slow effective implementation in practice. However, the envisaged benefits offer clearly a great incentive to find solutions for the defined obstacles. This will requiremulti-stakeholder involvement, training, collaboration and initiatives to alter both regulatory and clinical practice policies and guidelines that lie at the basis of both obstacles and solutions. To implement precision medicine successfully, early engagement and aligning stakeholders’ goals are critical. This collaboration should be maintained throughout the drug development cycle both within and between stakeholder groups.