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23andMe shares its DNA library with pharma giant GSK to help create new drugs
Digital Trends ^ | 7/27/18 | Lulu Chang

Posted on 07/27/2018 6:30:29 PM PDT by markomalley

23andMe will soon be doing a lot more with your DNA than providing a family tree. The home genetics company has teamed up with pharmaceutical giant GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) with hopes of designing new drugs that could treat diseases like Parkinson’s, among others. Given 23andMe’s substantial genetic database provided by its 5 million customers, the company hopes that a partnership with GSK could provide the necessary data to develop effective therapies.

“Since the inception of 23andMe, our mission has been to help people access, understand and benefit from the human genome,” Anne Wojcicki, the company’s CEO and co-founder, said in a statement. “Today, I am thrilled to announce that we are launching a collaboration with GlaxoSmithKline to accelerate our ability to make those novel treatments and cures a reality.”

This collaboration marks the largest such effort to date in the home genetics testing space and hopes to leverage the bevy of data that companies like 23andMe and Ancestry.com have collected thanks to mail-in saliva tests. 23andMe is by far the most popular of these kits, which means it likely has the most to offer a pharmaceutical partner.

23andMe has said that they will ask customers whether or not they would like to participate in research before using their data, ensuring that adequate consent is attained in the process. “As always, if our customers do not want to participate in research, they can choose to opt out at any time,” Wojcicki wrote.

This isn’t the first time that 23andMe has attempted to utilize its genetic data for scientific purposes. As Wojcicki noted, the research team at the company has published more than 100 scientific papers, and in 2015, the team launched 23andMe Therapeutics “to develop novel treatments and cures based on genetic insights from the consented 23andMe community.” Of course, with the help of GSK, these treatments and cures are likely to go much further.

GSK has made a $300 million investment in 23andMe and as part of the partnership, the pharmaceutical giant will maintain exclusive rights to collaborate with 23andMe in order to develop drugs. “By working with GSK, we believe we will accelerate the development of breakthroughs,” Wojcicki said. “Our genetic research — powered by millions of customers who have agreed to contribute — combined with GSK’s expertise in drug discovery and development, gives us the best chance for success.”


TOPICS: Business/Economy
KEYWORDS: 23andme; annewojcicki; genealogy; helixmakemineadouble
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I wonder who else they are sharing their DNA database with...
1 posted on 07/27/2018 6:30:29 PM PDT by markomalley
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To: markomalley

Oh, we found a match in Brooklyn, Iowa. Send a team in ASAP.


2 posted on 07/27/2018 6:33:15 PM PDT by petitfour (APPEAL TO HEAVEN)
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To: markomalley

The Matrix.

John Brennan.

Samaritan.


3 posted on 07/27/2018 6:33:16 PM PDT by Paladin2 (no spelchek, no problem...)
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To: markomalley

already share it with cops.

stupid idea to do this.


4 posted on 07/27/2018 6:37:16 PM PDT by Secret Agent Man ( Gone Galt; Not averse to Going Bronson.)
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To: markomalley

I heard they erased identities and just gave them the ray DNA data.

This is quite crucial because several drugs I’ve had to translate Phase 2/3 testing materials for don’t work with certain races (autoimmune cancer therapies) due to their genetic structures.


5 posted on 07/27/2018 6:38:37 PM PDT by struggle
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To: markomalley

Exactly why I didn’t do this.


6 posted on 07/27/2018 6:38:42 PM PDT by tinyowl (A is A)
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To: markomalley

If GSK patents your DNA, I suppose you can either buy a license from them to continue to use it, or they will get an injunction requiring you to turn over all cells containing that DNA.


7 posted on 07/27/2018 6:38:47 PM PDT by PAR35
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To: markomalley

imho, making new beneficial medicines should be the only kind of data sharing going on there


8 posted on 07/27/2018 6:38:54 PM PDT by faithhopecharity ( "Politicans aren't born, they're excreted." -Marcus Tillius Cicero (3 BCE))
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To: Secret Agent Man

Cops got it for free. The drug company paid almost a third of a billion dollars for it.


9 posted on 07/27/2018 6:40:10 PM PDT by PAR35
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To: tinyowl
Once again, you are the product.

Except this time you're actually paying money to be the product, unlike Facebook.

Imagine a widget that pays its manufacturer for selling it.

10 posted on 07/27/2018 6:40:13 PM PDT by tinyowl (A is A)
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To: markomalley

I wonder how many FReepers will read past the headline and see that this requires consent.


11 posted on 07/27/2018 6:41:28 PM PDT by Moonman62 (Give a man a fish and he'll be a Democrat. Teach a man to fish and he'll be a responsible citizen.)
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To: markomalley

It’s a beautiful world in Lib Land....

Oh, wait! We can’t give YOU that treatment, because your 23&Me profile says your genes suck....and....that you’re going to kick off, soon.

We tried to warn these fools, didn’t we?


12 posted on 07/27/2018 6:41:36 PM PDT by Jane Long (Praise God, from whom ALL blessings flow.)
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To: Moonman62

Consent was probably given when they submitted their DNA.


13 posted on 07/27/2018 6:42:19 PM PDT by Jane Long (Praise God, from whom ALL blessings flow.)
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To: tinyowl

I want more products that pay me to take them under my wing.


14 posted on 07/27/2018 6:42:41 PM PDT by Paladin2 (no spelchek, no problem...)
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To: Secret Agent Man

already share it with cops.

...

With or without consent?

The cases I recall, the cops used DNA from relatives to catch a serial killer or two.


15 posted on 07/27/2018 6:42:45 PM PDT by Moonman62 (Give a man a fish and he'll be a Democrat. Teach a man to fish and he'll be a responsible citizen.)
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To: markomalley
23andMe’s substantial genetic database provided by its 5 million customers

Let's note that those customers paid for the courtesy of "providing" that data. Thanks, suckers!

16 posted on 07/27/2018 6:44:06 PM PDT by jiggyboy (Ten percent of poll respondents are either lying or insane)
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To: markomalley
23andMe’s substantial genetic database provided by its 5 million customers

Let's note that those customers paid for the courtesy of "providing" that data. Thanks, suckers!

17 posted on 07/27/2018 6:44:06 PM PDT by jiggyboy (Ten percent of poll respondents are either lying or insane)
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To: Jane Long

Consent was probably given when they submitted their DNA.

...

23andMe has said that they will ask customers whether or not they would like to participate in research before using their data, ensuring that adequate consent is attained in the process. “As always, if our customers do not want to participate in research, they can choose to opt out at any time,” Wojcicki wrote.


18 posted on 07/27/2018 6:44:32 PM PDT by Moonman62 (Give a man a fish and he'll be a Democrat. Teach a man to fish and he'll be a responsible citizen.)
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To: Moonman62

Sorry...like I would EVER trust ANYONE affiliated with Google or YouTube.

...Ann Wojcicki, Founded is 23 and me, married to Google co-founder of Sergei Brin.....

These people want all up in your grill....stop voluntarily giving them your DNA.


19 posted on 07/27/2018 6:49:41 PM PDT by Jane Long (Praise God, from whom ALL blessings flow.)
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To: markomalley

You mean the thing that everybody said “No, they won’t do that. Stop being paranoid. Tell me how much norwegian is in your family ! Come on! It’s fun!”


20 posted on 07/27/2018 6:54:11 PM PDT by Celerity
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