23andMe, whose business model had taken a huge blow from the intervention of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, may be gradually repositioning itself as a developer of new esoteric tests. The California-based firm recently published research in the British journal Human Molecular Genetics suggesting there is a genetic link to what causes motion sickness in human beings. 23andMe used sequencing data from 80,000 of its customers to determine 35 such genetic linkages. According to the study, most of the genes are linked to balance and the development of the eyes, ears and cranium (PVRL3, TSHZ1, MUTED, HOXB3 and HOXD3, specifically). “Until now there’s been a poor understanding of the genetics of motion sickness, despite it being a fairly common condition,” said 23andMe Scientist Bethann Hromatka, who served as the lead author of the study. “These findings could help provide clues about the causes of motion sickness and other related conditions, and how to treat them, which is very exciting.” That 23andMe undertook such research and published it may suggest that it is looking to develop some molecular tests to determine predisposition to motion sickness. A company spokesperson did not return repeated phone calls seeking comment. 23andMe, whose founder and […]
23andMe, whose business model had taken a huge blow from the intervention of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, may be gradually repositioning itself as a developer of new esoteric tests.
The California-based firm recently published research in the British journal Human Molecular Genetics suggesting there is a genetic link to what causes motion sickness in human beings.
23andMe used sequencing data from 80,000 of its customers to determine 35 such genetic linkages. According to the study, most of the genes are linked to balance and the development of the eyes, ears and cranium (PVRL3, TSHZ1, MUTED, HOXB3 and HOXD3, specifically).
"Until now there's been a poor understanding of the genetics of motion sickness, despite it being a fairly common condition," said 23andMe Scientist Bethann Hromatka, who served as the lead author of the study. "These findings could help provide clues about the causes of motion sickness and other related conditions, and how to treat them, which is very exciting."
That 23andMe undertook such research and published it may suggest that it is looking to develop some molecular tests to determine predisposition to motion sickness. A company spokesperson did not return repeated phone calls seeking comment.
23andMe, whose founder and Chief Executive Officer Anne Wojcicki was until recently married to Google co-founder Sergey Brin, started the company with the intent of performing full DNA analyses of its customers and reporting on their potential risk for hereditary diseases.
However, the Food and Drug Administration intervened in 2013 and insisted that 23andMe’s testing be subject to pre-market approval because of the nature of the analysis being performed.
The company has since scaled back its testing service to focus solely on the ethnic and geographical origins of its clients. It submitted for FDA approval last June a potential genetic screening for Bloom’s Syndrome, a relatively rare disorder characterized by short stature, over-sensitivity to sun exposure, and a higher risk for developing cancer. The agency has yet to make a ruling for that assay.
Takeaway: 23andMe is looking for ways to refocus and restart its product pipeline.
