Once-hot DNA testing unicorn 23andMe is in serious trouble (support, buy, format)

[Suburban_Guy]

Not surprising at all.

Privacy concerns perhaps but also look at the business model. You have a finite number of customers and these are not repeat customers.

https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/o...115817212.html

Silicon Valley DNA testing company 23andMe, which has raised nearly $800 million in funding and was last valued at $2.5 billion, cut 14% of its workforce last week.

The cause is a slowdown in sales of its direct-to-consumer DNA kits, which run $100, $200, or $500 depending on how much information you want about your ancestry, genetic composition, health and wellness, carrier status, and vulnerability to certain diseases.

[musicfamly5]

Not really surprised. They provided a one time product that a good chunk of the population doesn't trust and the others who partook looked at it as a novelty or simple tool to learn more about their genetic background. So after all the people who've wanted the tests have done so there's nothing else to really offer right now. I would imagine most people let go had to do with sales and dealing with the actual kits which isn't needed now. But it doesn't mean the end, if anything this is just the beginning! The main goal was to develop a database of volunteered DNA from multiple demographics. They'll most likely starting their next phase of using their database of DNA to provide more personal medical or DNA supported info to customers.

It's actually a pretty good plan. Now that they have all this data on a well rounded database of millions of DNA samples it will be easier to use that data to help generalized major medical issues for specific demographic groups. So many of those that simply wanted to figure out their families past will come back when someone in the family is sick and possibly be able to know the best way to fight the issue for their DNA makeup. I haven't done it; but many adopted friends of mine have finally gotten to fill out the family medical section of their medical records because of these products and to me it seems the consumer medical possibilites are nearly endless.

I'm personally a little apprehensive putting trust in a company primarily interested in profit and data collection. I don't think they truly have enough knowledge and interest to do their best for individuals medical needs in the same way a true medical team could provide. And I wouldn't be surprised if they sold out to a drug manufacturer in the future to get people to buy more meds. Nothing wrong with that by itself, but it needs to be in addition to working with your personal doctor and actually paying attention to your health, not simple a paper telling you what your health may be.

[annoyingmagpie]

I'd be lying if I said that I was crying about it

[markjames68]

Originally Posted by annoyingmagpie

I'd be lying if I said that I was crying about it

Is there a genetic test for that?

[Bette]

I think there are people who are all over this, then run the tests, nothing really.

That's it.

I really don't care to have it done.

My daughter did it, however, and was disappointed she was not more worldly (meaning having backgrounds from more countries).

After that, it was done.

No surprises. Not that I expected any.

[Bo]

As a customer, it concerns me a little that they might have to revise the business model and start selling the data to keep the business afloat. Or that if it goes bankrupt, the creditors will find a buyer for the data, likely one with much less interest in maintaining 23andMe's strict privacy policy.