Illumina

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

Illumina snares sequencing tech in $60M buyout

John Carroll — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 11:59:22 -0400

Illumina has struck a $60 million deal to enhance its genetic sequencing technology with the acquisition of Avantome. Avantome's owners will get $25 million of that upfront with the rest coming in contingency payments. And company founders Mostafa Ronaghi and Helmy Eltoukhy say they will take a place in Illumina's management team.

- read the AP story

SPOTLIGHT: Illumina shells out $90M in settlement

Thu, 10 Jan 2008 06:59:53 -0500

San Diego-based Illumina will pay out $90 million to settle patent litigation with Affymetrix. Release

Illumina focuses on molecular diagnostics

Fri, 04 Jan 2008 06:59:54 -0500

San Diego-based Illumina has created two new business units. The Life Sciences Business Unit will include all products and services related to the company's sequencing and genotyping business. And with the new Diagnostics Business Unit, Illumina will attempt to tap into the hot molecular diagnostics market.

"This new organizational structure provides the foundation to continue scaling our global operations...A specific result will be the acceleration of the integration of our sequencing and genotyping technologies. Additionally, it will enable us to put more focus on developing our diagnostics business," said Jay Flatley, Illumina's President and CEO. The company also announced a number of management changes, and said that it's now in search of a product development VP and an operations VP.

- see Illumina's release for more

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Illumina to buy Solexa for $600M. Report
Warfarin label change spotlights molecular diagnostics. Report