March 11, 2019
Dive Brief:
- Direct-to-consumer genetic testing
company 23andMe is rolling out a new report for customers Monday assessing
predisposition to developing Type 2 diabetes. The report will be
available to 23andMe Health+Ancestry Service customers, a product which
the company currently prices at $199.
- In a company first, 23andMe said
the report was developed and validated solely based on its own
customers' data, assessing profiles of 2.5 million users who opted
into 23andMe research. Among the initial findings were that about 22% of
participants had a genetic risk of developing Type 2 diabetes, equal
to that conferred by being overweight.
- From that population, the company
created a polygenic scale that takes into account more than 1,000 genetic
variants to give individuals a score indicating inherent level of risk of
developing the disease. In addition to providing a polygenic score, the
report will include information on how an individual's physical profile
and lifestyle habits may influence risk, and will also provide educational
resources.
Dive Insight:
23andMe
is steadily adding health disorder indications to its genetic risk assessment
portfolio, which now includes tests assessing predisposition to various
cancers, macular degeneration and Parkinson's disease, among other conditions.
With
this latest report 23andMe is looking for widespread appeal, with the company
branding the test as offering customers "insight into their likelihood of
developing one of the most common, yet preventable, health conditions in the
United States."
The
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention gives prediabetes status to individuals with
higher than normal blood sugar that's not yet high enough to be diagnosed as
Type 2 diabetes. More than one in three American adults has prediabetes, CDC
says, but 90% of that population is unaware of their heightened risk for
diabetes, in addition to heart disease and stroke.
While
factors like genetics, family history and ethnicity can increase propensity to
develop Type 2 diabetes, the disease is still one largely impacted by
changeable lifestyle factors. But the company argues diabetes risk is currently
underscreened, and understanding inherent risk can instigate interventions with
healthcare providers and ultimately behavioral changes.
"When
customers learn about their genetic likelihood of developing Type 2 diabetes,
we believe there is an opportunity to motivate them to change their lifestyle
and ultimately to help them prevent the disease," said CEO Anne
Wojcicki.
Limitations
of the model include that it was designed and trained primarily using variants
from a European genome-wide association study, but recalibrated across all
ethnic populations.
As
part of the rollout, 23andMe partnered with artificial intelligence-based
health coaching and chronic disease management platform Lark Health. Customers
have the option to integrate their results with the platform that offers
counseling on diabetes prevention and weight loss.
Among
the company's recent FDA clearances are a De Novo in November for a test
assessing a patient's ability to metabolize certain
medicines, and a January 510(k) for a test assessing hereditary risk factors
for colorectal cancer.
https://www.healthcaredive.com/news/23andme-to-gauge-type-2-diabetes-risk/550209/
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