23andMe Expands Reach Globally into Europe and Canada Following its Successful U.S. Launch…
“A private firm funded by Google Inc. launched its Web-based DNA test in Europe, hoping to build on a successful start in the United States, where the $999 service went on sale in November…”
Davos, Switzerland — 23andMe Inc., a privately-held personal genetics company, linked to Google by money and marriage, said that it can “unlock the secrets of your own DNA for $999 US,” announced on Tuesday that it has begun making its services available to consumers in Canada and 49 European countries.
“The name is a reference to the 23 paired chromosomes in human DNA.”
DNA, sometimes called the blueprint for life, is a long, double-stranded molecule shaped like a twisted rope ladder. The genetic code is carried in the steps on the ladder.
It aims to help people understand what the spate of discoveries linking certain genes to medical conditions means for them.
The company, which officially launched in the U.S. on November 16, 2007, helps individuals understand their own genetic information through the latest advances in DNA analysis technologies and web-based interactive tools.
“The firm also hopes to turn its customers, and their genetic information, into study subjects for researchers and pharmaceutical companies.”
“23andMe was recently selected as a 2008 Technology Pioneer by the World Economic Forum and will be participating in the 2008 World Economic Forum Annual Meeting from January 23-28, 2008 in Davos, Switzerland.”
Linda Avey, a biotechnology executive who started the firm in 2006 with health-care investor Anne Wojcicki, wife of Google co-founder Sergey Brin, will showcase their service at the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos, which starts on January 23.
Using the company service, a person can find out what their own chances are of developing scores of common conditions, and also how their DNA may influence their athletic ability, intelligence and dietary preferences, co-founder Avey wrote on the company blog.
The company website also said the service enables buyers to compare their profiles with family or friends who buy in, discover where and how their ancestors lived, and participate in genetics research.
“Subscribers to 23andMe mail a saliva sample and, four to six weeks later, get the results online, allowing them to learn about inherited traits, their ancestry and — probably with the help of a professional — some of their personal disease risks.”
“We are receiving overwhelming interest in our services outside the U.S. and are pleased to now offer them in Canada and Europe,” Avey said. “We hope to continue to expand our global footprint to additional locations in the future.”
The co-founders of 23andMe, which began selling its $1,000 genetic scan in Canada this week, said they are in talks with drug firms to figure out how customers can be used as a data pool for research.
Since genome studies typically demand hundreds, if not thousands, of subjects to make reliable connections between DNA and common medical conditions, the company believes its customers could help push genetic research forward.
Stephen Scherer, a senior scientist at Toronto’s Hospital for Sick Children, which is involved in the Autism Genome Project that involves 8,000 people, called the 23andMe plan to pool data for research an “interesting, unusual business model.” But he said it might work well only for conditions that can be clearly diagnosed.
“I think people really want to help other people,” Avey said. “We would not want people to think that pharmaceutical companies have access to this information.”
23andMe, which launched in the US late last year, is one of a number of firms aiming to capitalize on the new market for personalized healthcare, where companies aim to provide tailored, genetic information to customers.
“23andMe can help you trace the inheritance of different traits in your family, from food preferences to sleep habits,” the company’s website says. “Find out which grandparent to thank for your athletic talent, or blame for your lactose intolerance.”
“The site, however, does not currently make interpretations about a user’s risk for developing such diseases as cancers, Alzheimer’s disease and diabetes, though users could in some cases get help from experts to make some basic assessments.”
Still, Dr. Scherer said that while “the instinctive reaction of many is that the science of these private testing companies is suspect,” he noted that high-end firms such as 23andMe and Navigenics, another California DNA testing company, use the same testing technology as hospital labs.
“DeCode Genetics, an Icelandic firm, provides a similar service for $985 (£500).”
Co-founder Wojcicki, said “we believe in empowering individuals by helping them understand their genetic make-up.” Google invested $3.9 million US in the company, the New York Times reported.
Avey continued, “We believe 2008 will be a year in which our understanding of the human genome will increase significantly through international research efforts, and we are eager to continue connecting individuals to this growing knowledge base of genetic information.”
“We enter the European and Canadian markets with great momentum and are excited to continue toward our goal of offering our services to the global community,” added Wojcicki.
How 23andMe’s services work:
The 23andMe test scans 580,000 mutations across the genome known as single nucleotide polymorphisms — or SNiPs, for short. These SNiPs are akin to single-letter typos that have been linked to particular traits, or conditions to which a person might be predisposed, or from which a person might be protected.
“23andMe sends individuals a saliva kit containing a bar-coded tube for saliva collection. Customers then use the enclosed mailing materials to send their samples to 23andMe’s contracted laboratory.”
The DNA is then extracted and exposed to a microchip-like device made by Illumina, Inc., a leading developer of genetic analysis tools, that reads more than half a million points in the individual’s genome, including a proprietary set of over 30,000 information-rich markers, chosen by 23andMe scientists, to produce a detailed genetic profile.
Once the analysis has been completed, individuals are able to use their own private login to access their data via 23andMe’s secure website. Using 23andMe’s web-based tools, individuals can explore their ancestry, see what genetic research means for them and compare themselves to friends and family members.
“Participants become part of a community that works together to advance the overall understanding of the human genome.”
To learn more and embark on your own personal genetic journey, please visit: www.23andMe.com.
Representatives from the company will be available to press and forum attendees at the 23andMe Booth on Wednesday, January 23rd to Saturday, January 26th 2008 from 10.00am – 2.00pm and 5.00pm – 11.00pm CET daily.
“The 23andMe Booth will be located on the first floor of the Belvedere Hotel (Promenade 89/7270 Davos-Platz) in Davos.”
23andMe is now available to consumers in the following locations:
Albania, Andorra, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Malta, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, San Marino, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine, the United Kingdom, the United States and Vatican City State.