Topic: 23andMe, Amgen, Decode Genetics, deCODEme, DTC, DTC genetic testing, Navigenics
A day after Amgen purchased deCODE Genetics for a whopping $415M, in part for access to its unique data (as described in yesterday's post), 23andMe announced today it had raised $50M in new financing as part of a concerted effort to grow its genetic database to one million customers.
Both events underscore the increasing importance of data to the business of personalized medicine. In addition, today's news suggests that 23andMe's efforts to refocus the company to maximize its most valuable asset – "an engaged, enthusiastic and growing community of customers-qua-research-participants" who supply the raw genetic, phenotypic and other material for 23andMe's expanding database – continue apace.
Either way, in securing another massive round of financing and lowering its price to $99, the last company standing of the direct-to-consumer (DTC) genetic testing pioneers appears unlikely to be joining deCODE, Navigenics and others in abandoning its consumer-facing approach any time soon.
This morning, Gene By Gene, Ltd. – better known as the parent company of the popular genetic genealogy provider Family Tree DNA – formally announced a corporate reorganization that includes the…