The early XXI century was marked with entry into the market of a great deal of medicinal preparations with a totally new molecular-oriented mechanism of action. These results could only be made possible through achievements in molecular and cellular biology and completion of the Human Genome Project, in particular. Many pathogenic mechanisms of different illnesses, including oncological and autoimmune ones, were deciphered. The data stimulated the search for totally innovative therapy methods targeting at the key links of the abnormal process pathogenetic chain, collectively known as ‘targeted therapy’. The issues of personalized medicine, including the ethics, are considered through the study of the Coriell Institute.