- By Susanne Posel – March 13, 2015
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big pharma, corporations, FDA
Susanne Posel ,Chief Editor Occupy Corporatism | The US IndependentMarch 13, 2015
23andMe has made their mark as the newest go-to for pharmaceutical corporations looking to get into the DNA business.
This genetic tech corporation is owned by Anne Wojcicki, estranged wife of Google founder Sergey Brin, and funded by Google and Google Ventures with an initial investment of $161 million.
The home genetics company has collaborated with Pfizer “to conduct genome-wide association studies and surveys, as well as expedite clinical trial recruitment” and the genome tech giant Genetech for a $60 million venture to “analyze whole-genome sequence data in hopes of finding new therapeutic targets for Parkinson’s disease.”
As part of the deal , 23andMe hired 14 year veteran from Gentech, Richard Schenller as their chief scientist and head of research and development.
To begin with 680,000 customers of 23andMe have agreed to let the corporation use their genetic data for research into drug therapies that can be licensed “to larger, more established drugmakers” in the future.
For research purposes, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) agree gave their approval to use 23andMe’s home genetic testing kit (HGTK) under the condition they search for a genetic marker for Bloom Syndrome.
Bloom syndrome is an inherited disorder causing shorter and thinner stature and affects “people of Central and Eastern European (Ashkenazi) Jewish background, among whom about 1 in 50,000 are affected. Approximately one-third of people with Bloom syndrome are of Ashkenazi Jewish descent.”
This hasty decision is in direct conflict with the FDA’s stance on 23andMe’s product established in November of 2013 that their HGTK which is still under review “may not work as advertised”.
This was further clarified in a letter to 23andMe from the FDA voicing this concern: “[We are] concerned about the public health consequences of inaccurate results from the PGS device. The main purpose of compliance with FDA’s regulatory requirements is to ensure that the tests work.”
The HGTK is designed to test and diagnose mutation in the genome to determine the genetic traits possible future children will inherit from their parents.
A sample of saliva from the subject is then run through a gene chip provided by Illumina for deciphering of genetic ancestry and information on genetic risks, propensities and “mutations” that could lead to disease during the individual’s lifetime.
As part of their patented process, 23andMe has a tool called the Family Traits Inheritance Calculator (FTIC).
This “calculator” deciphers gene mutations to control certain characteristics desired by the subject for future generations; i.e. 23andMe claims to be able to make a child genetically designed by the parents.
Parents can choose to accentuate or deaccentuate genetic traits such as:
• Height
• Weigh
• Muscle development
• Athletic abilities
• Personality traits
• Development of cancer and other diseases
• Extended life span
23andMe promises: “You could say whether you want a kid with blue eyes or green eyes, a long lifespan, or less risk of colorectal cancer. Or more risk of colorectal cancer, if that’s what you’re into. The system then runs the database of your genes against others, to recommend a mating match that would be likely to produce a child with said traits.”
The patent for the FTIC would have allowed for more “calculated” donors in sperm and egg clinics that will facilitate recipients can evaluate the genetic possibilities when combined with the donor and their own.
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