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The CEO of Silicon Valley DNA testing startup 23andMe shares the health product she hopes to sell next

By Administrator | 18 October 2018

Anne Wojcicki, the CEO and founder of popular Silicon Valley gene testing company 23andMe, doesn’t feel like the company is currently offering what she called a “complete product.”

That’s because the current gene testing kit – which includes health screenings for some of the genes involved in Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and breast cancer – does not include a test that looks at how you process medications including those for depression.

Those DNA tests, which assess genes involved in the break down of antidepressants in the body, are currently being offered by psychiatrists and Albertsons pharmacists in three major cities at a hefty price tag of $US750. Just last month, another Silicon Valley genetics testing startup called Colour Genomics began offering the test as part of its $US250 kits.

And on Tuesday at a conference organised by Rock Health, one of Silicon Valley’s premier health-tech funding groups, Wojcicki said she hoped her company could include that kind of test in its product lineup soon.

But many scientists feel the tests don’t offer a clear benefit to people and in some cases arenot worth the money. Among other issues, the tests may give conflicting results to the same patient for the same medication and don’t tell providers which specific medication is best, according to experts. Read more

Erin Brodwin - Bussiness Insider - 18 October 2018

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