The Perfect Collaboration

According to a recent report by Digital Trends, 23andMe is looking to do a lot more than just collect a large sampling of the world’s DNA! That’s right, with news that the genetics company is teaming up with pharmaceutical giant GlaxoSmithKline.

23andMe has over 5 million customers….that’s a lot of DNA and reportedly hopes that its expansive genetic database and its new partnership with GSK will help develop effective therapies for diseases like Parkinson’s, among others. Part of this deal includes GSK investing $300 million in 23andMe.

Out of the 5 million customers 80% of them opted in to share their DNA results with researchers. “We will be bringing that genetic information together with GSK’s vast capabilities around drug discoveries and development. We will be looking to find new therapeutic targets based on this genetic data. What’s exciting is that what we know when we find drug targets based on human genetic data is that they are twice as likely to successfully translate it into a medicine and help patients.” Says Vice President of Business Development at 23andMe, Emily Drabant….stay tuned