23andMe Launches Discover23 to Help Accelerate Large-Scale Genetics Research For Biopharma Collaborators, Powered By Lifebit’s Trusted Technology
January 08 2025 - 7:30AM
23andMe Holding Co. (Nasdaq: ME), a leading human genetics company,
today announced the launch of Discover23®, a new research offering
enabling authorized collaborators to securely access the power and
diversity of the 23andMe research cohort through a Trusted Research
Environment (TRE) developed by Lifebit, a technology company
trusted by some of the world’s leading biomedical research
organizations and governments.
Discover23 provides analysis-ready genome-wide association
studies (GWAS) conducted on 1000+ disease and condition cohorts
curated from 4.7B phenotypic data points by 23andMe’s expert
scientists. Biopharma collaborators will be able to access
summarized results of analyses conducted using data stripped of
personal identifiers within 23andMe’s TRE, where authorized
researchers are provided with highly secure, isolated workspaces to
leverage 23andMe research findings while ensuring the protection of
participant privacy.
Discover23 evaluates associations of over 172 million genetic
variants across billions of phenotypic data points provided by
consenting 23andMe research participants. Approximately 84 percent
of the Company’s 15 million customers have opted in to participate
in 23andMe’s Research program. Partners can use Discover23 to help
identify novel disease biology, discover potential new drug
targets, and add genetic evidence into research programs to boost
clinical success.
“We are excited to empower experts at the frontier of biomedical
research with access to insights and expertise with Discover23,”
said Anne Wojcicki, CEO and Co-Founder of 23andMe. “We believe that
giving external research partners access to these insights will
have the potential to bring new and more effective treatments to
the world.”
“At Lifebit, we share 23andMe’s commitment to empower
researchers with the tools to drive innovative discoveries in drug
development and precision medicine,” said Dr. Maria Dunford, CEO of
Lifebit. “We recognize that healthcare data is highly sensitive. We
are proud to partner with 23andMe to provide a secure, federated
platform that allows researchers to analyze data where it resides,
enhancing security, reducing risk, and supporting collaborative
research in a controlled environment.”
For partners interested in previewing the breadth and depth of
23andMe’s analytical offerings, including Discover23, contact
bd@23andMe.com. The 23andMe and Lifebit teams will be attending the
JPM Healthcare Conference in San Francisco, January 13-16, 2025.
Learn more about Discover23 and other partner solutions at
https://partner.23andme.com.
Protecting Participant Privacy23andMe has built
strong privacy protections to enable its customers to be in control
of their data. All customers have the option to consent to
participate in the 23andMe Research program, which is overseen by a
third party Institutional Review Board (IRB) to ensure research
being conducted meets the highest ethical standards. Only data from
customers who consent to participate in research is used for
23andMe Research, and for those that choose to opt-in, their
information is stripped of personal identifiers for research
activities, meaning participants’ personal identifiers such as name
and contact details are stripped from their genetic and
self-reported information, with the two sets of data stored
separately. If a customer originally opted-in to participate in
23andMe’s Research program, they can easily withdraw at any time
within their account settings.
About 23andMe23andMe is a genetics-led consumer
healthcare company empowering a healthier future. For more
information, please visit investors.23andme.com.
About LifebitLifebit is a global leader in
genomics and health data and software, empowering organizations
across the world to transform how they securely and safely leverage
sensitive biomedical data. Lifebit is solving the most challenging
problems in precision medicine, genomics and healthcare with a
mission to create a world where access to biomedical data will
never again be an obstacle to preventing and curing diseases. Learn
more about Lifebit’s TRE here. www.lifebit.ai @lifebitAI
Contact Information23andMeMedia:
press@23andMe.comBusiness Development: bd@23andMe.comInvestor
Relations: investors@23andMe.com
LifebitMedia: pr@lifebit.ai
Forward-Looking
StatementsThis press release contains forward-looking
statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act
of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934, as amended, including. All statements, other than
statements of historical fact, included or incorporated in this
press release are forward-looking statements. The words "believes,"
"anticipates," "estimates," "plans," "expects," "intends," "may,"
"could," "should," "potential," "likely," "projects," “predicts,”
"continue," "will," “schedule,” and "would" or, in each case, their
negative or other variations or comparable terminology, are
intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all
forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. These
forward-looking statements are predictions based on 23andMe’s
current expectations and projections about future events and
various assumptions. 23andMe cannot guarantee that it will actually
achieve the plans, intentions, or expectations disclosed in its
forward-looking statements and you should not place undue reliance
on 23andMe’s forward-looking statements. These forward-looking
statements involve a number of risks, uncertainties (many of which
are beyond the control of 23andMe), or other assumptions that may
cause actual results or performance to differ materially from those
expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. The
forward-looking statements contained herein are also subject
generally to other risks and uncertainties that are described from
time to time in the Company’s filings with the Securities and
Exchange Commission, including under Item 1A, “Risk Factors” in the
Company’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, as filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission, and as revised and updated by
our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K.
The statements made herein are made as of the date of this press
release and, except as may be required by law, 23andMe undertakes
no obligation to update them, whether as a result of new
information, developments, or otherwise.
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