23andMe Is Shifting Into Drug Growth
Today, DNA testing companies can help people determine everything from where their ancestors lived to what foods they might have a genetic predisposition to evolve
23andMe was one of the first companies to cause a sensation in 2006 offers autosomal DNA testing for the average consumer. Individuals could send in a cheek swab and have a full breakdown of their DNA in a matter of weeks. It started out as a tool for determining parentage and has evolved over time.
Over the past nearly 15 years, the company has amassed a huge database of genetic material. His latest endeavor could change the medical industry’s perspective on further drug development. Why is 23andMe getting involved in drug development and how could it help shape the future of medicine?
The concept of pharmacogenomics
It is often joked that medicine is called a practice for a reason, but when it comes down to it, there are many trials and errors in determining which drugs will work best for a particular patient. There are many variables to consider – some of them are invisible and can hide in a person’s genome. This is where the practice of pharmacogenomics comes into play.
For those unfamiliar with science, pharmacogenomics is “the study of a person’s unique genetic makeup” affects their response to medication. “A person’s genome can determine how drugs are given and how effective the results are. This is incredibly common with psychiatric drugs. It can take several tries to find something that can effectively treat depression or other chemical imbalances in the brain. Pharmacogenomics eliminates the trial and error process and makes it easier to find the perfect drug to get the best results.
This type of pharmaceutical research relies on many very sensitive variables. Anything from slight changes in temperature to oil spill from air compressors can ruin an experiment and cause researchers to try again. Commercial quality air and nitrogen compressors can help avoid these problems and allow researchers studying pharmacogenomics to complete their work. It doesn’t eliminate all of the variables that could potentially affect an experiment, but it does provide some control.
Mergers and acquisitions
In 2018, 23andMe partnered with GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) to improve the likelihood of success in new drug developments and studies. Previous studies showed that only approx 10% of the new molecular candidates have traditionally been approved for drug trials, and the introduction of genetic support can nearly double the potential for approval.
In 2020, the joint efforts of GSK and 23andMe made progress potential first-in-class cancer treatment. They used genetic data from consumers who chose to have their genetic information used for scientific research.
23andMe went public in 2021, and while its stock started off low – around the $ 10 mark – this push into drug development means investors can expect the company to be a great long-term investment option. GSK and 23andMe currently have an immuno-oncology drug in Phase 1 trials. If it proves successful, investing in this type of collaboration could be a wise decision to move forward.
This type of drug development could become the standard in the future, with the potential to turn the entire biotech industry on the head. Right now, drug development – much like prescribing the above psychiatric drugs – is a lot of trial and error. Tools like that huge genetic database that 23andMe has accumulated over the years could be invaluable.
There are some additional steps involved here, such as contacting people who have not yet decided to use their genetic information for drug research. However, the hurdles are not insurmountable.
view in the future
Pharmacogenomics is still in its infancy, but this science could transform the way the medical industry explores new drugs and treatments. 23andMe isn’t the only company that has been collecting genetic information for decades, but it is the only company that is actively working to use that information for the benefit of humankind. While the industry is still a long way from developing individualized drugs or treatments based on a person’s genetics, the potential is there. This is an exciting time to work in drug discovery and medical development.
Pharmacogenomics has the potential to change the way new drugs and treatments are discovered. Still, the fact that it relies on genetic information – something people must choose to use – presents some hurdles to the widespread adoption of this type of research. When genetic information becomes valuable, it can become a salable good – but that’s a conversation for another time.
