First UK patients diagnosed through genome sequencing

The government has shared details on the first UK patients to be diagnosed through genome sequencing – the latest in a series of medical milestones reached in this country.

Two families have been diagnosed with rare conditions as part of a project at Newcastle Hospitals and University that used an analysis of their genomes to properly understand the health issues they are experiencing.

They will now receive tailored and personalised treatment, something that will be possible for more people following the completion of an ongoing project to sequence 100,000 genomes across the country.

Other recent medical milestones reached in the last few days include the confirmation of the melanoma drug pembrolizumab as the first drug to be approved through the Early Access to Medicine Scheme, and the greenlighting of two proton beam therapy cancer treatment centres to be built in London and Manchester this summer.

A review into medical innovation and technology is also soon set to get underway.

Health secretary Jeremy Hunt said: "The breakthroughs that we are announcing today shows the UK and the NHS leading the world in genomic research, and will help ensure that people in our country will get the most advanced treatments."