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GlaxoSmithKline makes $300M investment in 23andMe, forms 50-50 R&D pact

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Re: GlaxoSmithKline makes $300M investment in 23andMe, forms 50-50 R&D pact

#21
post #13

Make no mistake about what is happening here. GSK is buying access to all of the genetic data that 23andMe has. This is why I am wary to use any 23andMe type of service. "The partners plan to use 23andMe’s data to jointly discover drug targets." They will claim all kinds of protections of course, but it is only a matter of time until genetic data starts being resold.

Imagine the possibilities of direct to consumer targeted marketing: “ Based on your genetic profile you’re 27% more likely to develop ________, talk to your doctor about how GSK’s _________ can help ”

If you neglect the dystopian aspect (which I don't have issue doing) the possibility is amazing as someone who is not immune to health problems and appreciates modern medicine.

Re: GlaxoSmithKline makes $300M investment in 23andMe, forms 50-50 R&D pact

#22

I find it seriously scary how 23andMe markets itself. Externally, they're a family company helping you understand your family history and equipping you to anticipate health problems so you can prepare for them. Internally, in presentations to venture capitalists and in job interviews with engineers like me, the picture is quite different. They're building a genetic database and plotting world domination from a thousa…

Would you elaborate on these nebulous plans for world domination?

Re: GlaxoSmithKline makes $300M investment in 23andMe, forms 50-50 R&D pact

#23

Make no mistake about what is happening here. GSK is buying access to all of the genetic data that 23andMe has. This is why I am wary to use any 23andMe type of service. "The partners plan to use 23andMe’s data to jointly discover drug targets." They will claim all kinds of protections of course, but it is only a matter of time until genetic data starts being resold.

I don't understand these concerns. I have published my data from 23andMe (https://enki.org/2017/10/17/publishing-my-genome/) (https://github.com/mcculley/genes-genes). Can you share what you think the bad outcomes would be? What am I missing?

Edit: As people bring up the insurance risk, yes I did consider that and mention it in my post. I am personally not concerned about it and think the advantages outweigh the risk. Besides, I think insurances companies are going to have all the data soon anyway. If every time I get a blood test, they have a chance to capture my DNA, how can I stop them?

Re: GlaxoSmithKline makes $300M investment in 23andMe, forms 50-50 R&D pact

#24
I asked 23andMe if there was any way to delete my genetic data from their site after the Equifax hack news. From their response:

"23andMe and our third party genotyping laboratory will retain Genetic Information, date of birth, and sex as required for compliance with applicable legal obligations, including the U.S. Federal Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments of 1988 (CLIA), California Business and Professional Code Section 1265, and College of American Pathologists (CAP) accreditation requirements.

23andMe will also retain limited information related to your account and data deletion request, including but not limited to, your email address, account deletion request identifier, and record of legal agreements for a limited period of time as required by contractual obligations, and/or as necessary for the establishment, exercise or defense of legal claims and for audit and compliance purposes.

We recommend that you review our full Privacy Statement for more information about deleting your data before submitting your request."

So basically, once your in their system, you can't get out.

And you're paying them money for this.

Any way to do self-DNA testing?

Re: GlaxoSmithKline makes $300M investment in 23andMe, forms 50-50 R&D pact

#25

Make no mistake about what is happening here. GSK is buying access to all of the genetic data that 23andMe has. This is why I am wary to use any 23andMe type of service. "The partners plan to use 23andMe’s data to jointly discover drug targets." They will claim all kinds of protections of course, but it is only a matter of time until genetic data starts being resold.

I don't understand these concerns. I have published my data from 23andMe ( https://enki.org/2017/10/17/publishing-my-genome/ ) ( https://github.com/mcculley/genes-genes ). Can you share what you think the bad outcomes would be? What am I missing? Edit: As people bring up the insurance risk, yes I did consider that and mention it in my post. I am personally not concerned about it and think the advantages outweigh the…

Don’t you think insurance companies might want that data to price your coverage for their optimal margins?

Re: GlaxoSmithKline makes $300M investment in 23andMe, forms 50-50 R&D pact

#26

Make no mistake about what is happening here. GSK is buying access to all of the genetic data that 23andMe has. This is why I am wary to use any 23andMe type of service. "The partners plan to use 23andMe’s data to jointly discover drug targets." They will claim all kinds of protections of course, but it is only a matter of time until genetic data starts being resold.

I don't understand these concerns. I have published my data from 23andMe ( https://enki.org/2017/10/17/publishing-my-genome/ ) ( https://github.com/mcculley/genes-genes ). Can you share what you think the bad outcomes would be? What am I missing? Edit: As people bring up the insurance risk, yes I did consider that and mention it in my post. I am personally not concerned about it and think the advantages outweigh the…

Insurance is the first one that pops into my mind. That kind of data changes their bet on your risks heavily into their favor and can disadvantage you if your genes show anything corroleated with late onset diseases. Depending on how this information is regulated, it could also affect the insurance for your biological children.

For more hypothetical societal risks, I’ll cite the movie Gattica where DNA credentialism has created an underclass of people who can’t afford genetic manipulation at birth of their children. If your DNA is found wanting in that society it could be used against you in job applications, rental applications, etc.

Currently (IANAL) but I don’t think this would be legal, but once your information is out there, it’s rather hard to bottle back up.

Re: GlaxoSmithKline makes $300M investment in 23andMe, forms 50-50 R&D pact

#27

23andme has made a pretty impressive recovery after the FDA issues a few years ago, although i think the jury is still out on how useful their data will be for drug discovery. I think they mostly have genotype data rather than WES, and i think their clinical data is all patient reported? The value of their engaged audience seems clearer, especially if it can help enroll clinical trials faster

It may be that GSK isn't really interested in the existing 23&me product line, but wants their name recognition and infrastructure. 23 is as close as anyone to delivering a full GWAIS product to the public, which this partnership only enhances. Combined with large capacity cheap deep sequencing by someone like BGI, this partnership would be ideal for GSK to add in-house infrastructure to do a LOT of GWAIS for all kinds of drug target ID efforts or clinical patient stratification.

Maybe GSK has decided to target patients very precisely as standard practice in all future drug trials. This makes a lot of sense if you want a new drug to maximize efficacy or minimize toxicity by cherry picking your high responders and low intoxicants, thereby easily avoiding all folks who don't benefit from it, even if no-go patients are in the majority. But it also assumes such cherry labels will be available to physicians and insurers soon, presumably as de rigeur medical practice for the general public. Streamlining a product like 23's might make this initiative fly economically.

Done early in a drug trial, like phase II, you might be able to use deep genome data to tune up or rescue a new drug that looks promising but not quite promising enough to continue to phase III. Deep genomic analysis is a very promising way to stratify patients who will benefit from those who won't.

This looks to me like GSK has just bought into GWAIS in a big way for thousands or more patients, esp in clinical trials. This partnership can only help both companies, since I don't see a major pharma ever trying to take over 23's existing boutique geek navel-gazer business.

Re: GlaxoSmithKline makes $300M investment in 23andMe, forms 50-50 R&D pact

#28

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't understand these concerns. I have published my data from 23andMe ( https://enki.org/2017/10/17/publishing-my-genome/ ) ( https://github.com/mcculley/genes-genes ). Can you share what you think the bad outcomes would be? What am I missing? Edit: As people bring up the insurance risk, yes I did consider that and mention it in my post. I am personally not concerned about it and think the advantages outweigh the…

Insurance is the first one that pops into my mind. That kind of data changes their bet on your risks heavily into their favor and can disadvantage you if your genes show anything corroleated with late onset diseases. Depending on how this information is regulated, it could also affect the insurance for your biological children. For more hypothetical societal risks, I’ll cite the movie Gattica where DNA credentialism…

I mention the insurance risk in my post. Yes, I do think insurance companies will try to use this data. I don't see how to avoid it though. It seems to me that it is inevitable that they will get my DNA at some point. That said, I buy insurance for the unknown risks. If I had a known condition, I would expect that to be factored into the price.

Re: GlaxoSmithKline makes $300M investment in 23andMe, forms 50-50 R&D pact

#29

Make no mistake about what is happening here. GSK is buying access to all of the genetic data that 23andMe has. This is why I am wary to use any 23andMe type of service. "The partners plan to use 23andMe’s data to jointly discover drug targets." They will claim all kinds of protections of course, but it is only a matter of time until genetic data starts being resold.

I don't understand these concerns. I have published my data from 23andMe ( https://enki.org/2017/10/17/publishing-my-genome/ ) ( https://github.com/mcculley/genes-genes ). Can you share what you think the bad outcomes would be? What am I missing? Edit: As people bring up the insurance risk, yes I did consider that and mention it in my post. I am personally not concerned about it and think the advantages outweigh the…

Primary concern is declining insurance coverage, unless 23 and me allows for a anonymous no name test?

Re: GlaxoSmithKline makes $300M investment in 23andMe, forms 50-50 R&D pact

#30

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't understand these concerns. I have published my data from 23andMe ( https://enki.org/2017/10/17/publishing-my-genome/ ) ( https://github.com/mcculley/genes-genes ). Can you share what you think the bad outcomes would be? What am I missing? Edit: As people bring up the insurance risk, yes I did consider that and mention it in my post. I am personally not concerned about it and think the advantages outweigh the…

Don’t you think insurance companies might want that data to price your coverage for their optimal margins?

Yes, I mention this in my post.
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