23andMe

23andMe slashes genetic test price to $399

Maureen Martino — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 12:09:15 -0400

How low can 23andMe go? Lower than $999, apparently. The Google-backed genetic screening company has slashed the price of its Personal Genome Service test, which analyzes patients for inherited traits and provides some idea of their personal disease risks, though critics say the link between genes and diseases is still unclear. The company's competitors sell similar tests for $1,000 to $2,500, making 23andMe's test by far the cheapest.

The company said the price cut was possible "thanks to technological advancements made by the company that provides its DNA scanning technology, Illumina." By offering a cheaper test, 23andMe hopes that more people will be able to afford it, leading to quick adoption among patients. In addition to the price cut, 23andMe also unveiled the expansion of its custom genotyping content along with new social networking and community features.

"By taking advantage of continuing innovation we are able to introduce a new chip that will give people more relevant data at a lower price," said Anne Wojcicki (photo), co-founder of 23andMe. "We are excited that we are opening doors for more people to learn about their health and ancestry and for more people to be able to participate in advancing research. It is important to democratize personal genetics and make it more accessible."

- see 23andMe's release on the price cut
- read the AP report

Knome to sequence 20 genomes this year

John Carroll — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 11:22:08 -0400

Knome, the brainchild of renowned Harvard geneticist George Church, is reportedly on track to sequence the genomes of 20 people this year. Knome garnered worldwide attention for its plans to offer full sequencing information on individuals at a price of $350,000. A slate of start-ups including 23andMe and Navigenics have popped up to offer much more limited genetic analysis to consumers interested in finding out more about the risks they face for certain diseases.

"People assume it's hypochondriacs coming to us," Knome CEO Jorge Conde tells the Boston Globe. "It isn't. It's people who are technophiles and inherently curious about themselves, and about science."

- read the article from the Boston Globe

$999 DNA test offers insights on disease risks

Mon, 26 Nov 2007 06:59:56 -0500

A new company with about $10 million in venture backing is going live with its bid to earn cash from personalized DNA tests. 23andMe's stated mission is to advance the genetics revolution to the next level. It offers people a chance to send in a swab of saliva that can be analyzed for inherited traits and some idea of their personal disease risks--all for a cost of $999. The personalized DNA test is made available online and is expected to play a role in scientific studies regarding risk factors and disease. Co-founder Anne Wojcicki (photo) is married to Google co-founder Sergey Brin. Google has put up about $4 million of the start-up's venture capital.

- see 23andMe's release on the test
- read the report from The New York Times

Related Article:
Google backs a biotech start-up. Report
Genetic test seen as big step to personalized meds. Report
Diagnostics tied to new drugs. Report

Google backs a biotech start-up

Tue, 22 May 2007 20:01:36 -0400

A little-known biotech startup has ginned some substantial investment backing through the help of Google co-founder Sergey Brin. Brin originally loaned seed funds to 23andMe, which was co-founded by his new wife Anne Wojcicki. Now Google has come in to back the company along with Genentech CEO Arthur Levinson, a Google director, New Enterprise Associates and Mohr Davidow Ventures. The fledgling company is focused on DNA analysis technology that will shed light on the genetic information encoded in individual's 23 chromosomes. The $2.6 million Brin originally advanced to the company is lunch money to the Google founder, who's worth billions.

- here's the report on 23andMe from AHN