DNA-testing start-up 23andMe is experimenting with a brand new manner to gather much more well being data from thousands and thousands of its customers than just their DNA.
The firm is now asking a subset of consumers in the event that they’d be prepared to incorporate their lab outcomes, prescription info and medical historical past, after they’ve obtained the outcomes from the genetic take a look at. 23andMe, which has offered about 10 million at-home DNA testing kits, can be in a position to entry that data if customers let the corporate join outdoors medical suppliers utilizing a third-party medical data community referred to as Human API.
CNBC seen the service in motion earlier this week and the corporate confirmed that it is a beta program that can be steadily rolled out to all customers, however declined to remark additional on its plans. The service continues to be being piloted, mentioned an individual acquainted with the matter, and the product might change relying on the way it’s obtained.
Such a transfer would deliver the 23andMe squarely into Apple’s territory.
Apple, lately, has developed its personal well being data service, which goals to mixture medical info together with lab checks and prescriptions into the Health app on the iPhone.
One lacking part from Apple’s program, nonetheless, is genetics data, which could current a possibility for 23andMe to attain individuals who care about getting a deeper evaluation of how their genetic info may impression their danger of illness.
23andMe’s pitch to customers is that the service is a straightforward manner to entry well being data, particularly if it is scattered throughout a number of methods, get new insights about their well being, and help with analysis. (Click the picture to enlarge.)
23andMe is trialling a brand new service that goals to mixture customers’ well being data.
Christina Farr, CNBC
For 23andMe, it is a manner to enhance its each its analysis efforts and its well being insights.
Currently, the corporate has entry to genetic info through those that take its at-home DNA take a look at, in addition to some well being info that it collects through surveys. Having entry to a much wider data set would supply much more alternative for 23andMe to open up new sources of income, specialists say.
While the corporate is greatest recognized for its $99 and up DNA take a look at, it makes a lot of its cash via analysis collaborations with pharmaceutical corporations. And going ahead, it hopes to produce new drug therapies by leveraging its rising well being database.
“It’s a clever move,” famous Ruby Gadelrab, a former 23andMe vp who now supplies consulting providers to health-tech corporations. “For consumers, health data is fragmented and this is a step towards helping them aggregate more of it,” she mentioned.
Gadelrab additionally famous that it’d assist 23andMe present individuals with details about their dangers for complicated, persistent illnesses like diabetes, the place it is useful for scientists to entry a data-set that comes with details about particular person well being habits, drugs, household historical past and extra.
The firm lately misplaced its chief scientific officer, Richard Scheller, nevertheless it…
https://www.cnbc.com/2019/07/11/23andme-taking-on-apple-with-pilot-to-gather-medical-data-not-just-dna.html