Personalised medicine: from home genetic testing to biotech research

I was surprised to learn that a well-known home genetic testing company had transformed into a biotech firm. They are now conducting research in immuno-oncology and branching into various fields such as cancer, cardiovascular disease, and neurology.

Why did they make this change? Apparently, this was a "logical" transition that they had planned to leverage the millions of people's genetic data they had collected. This data can help identify patterns in our DNA to improve our understanding of human health and diseases.

The biotech industry is increasingly embracing cell and gene therapies to provide customised treatments whereby therapies are tailored to an individual's unique genetic makeup. Personalised medicine uses a person's genetic profile to help inform decisions to help prevent, diagnose, treat, and even halt disease progression.

What do you think about this transition and the use of consumer health data?

Further reading:

• National Human Genome Research Institute (n.d.) Personalized medicine. Available at: https://www.genome.gov/genetics-glossary/Personalized-Medicine (Accessed: 15 January 2024).
• Sanogenetics (n.d.) From lab to life: How genetic testing is transforming pharma and biotech. Available at: https://sanogenetics.com/resources/blog/from-lab-to-life-how-genetic-testing-is-transforming-pharma-and-biotech (Accessed: 15 January 2024).
• BioPharma Dive (2023) 23andMe CEO Anne Wojcicki's vision for changing healthcare as a drug developer, 14 November. Available at: https://www.biopharmadive.com/news/23andme-ceo-anne-wojcicki-pharma-drug-development/698995/ (Accessed: 15 January 2024).