Color Genomics

Color Genomics
Industry Cancer research
Founders Elad Gil, Nish Bhat, Taylor Sittler, and Othman Laraki
Headquarters Burlingame, California
Key people
 Othman Laraki (CEO)
Products Genomic testing
Website www.color.com

Color is a population genomics technology company..

History

The company was cofounded by Elad Gil, Nish Bhat, Taylor Sittler,[1] and Othman Laraki, who serves as company CEO,[2] in Burlingame, California.[3] In 2015 the company received an initial $15 million in funding.[4] In September 2016, it raised an additional $45 million.[5] In 2016 Katie Jacobs Stanton became the CMO of Color Genomics[6] and Jill Hagenkord became the Chief Medical Officer.[7]

According to Fortune Magazine, Color Genomics's intention is to increase accessibility for genetic testing.[8] Part of this is to improve access to tests for minorities, in order to better understand non-Caucasian gene variants. [6] The original cost for the test was about 10% of the cost of testing through traditional companies.[2] Later, the company offered a further discounted price for the family members of those who test positive for inherited mutations.[9][10][11] In 2017 the company began accepting health insurance for the Color Test.[12]

Testing system

The system requires a saliva sample, from which the company can look for mutations in the breast cancer genes BRCA1 and BRCA2, as well as 28 other genes for breast, prostate, colon, uterine, stomach, melanoma, pancreatic, and ovarian cancers.[13][4][14] Samples are reviewed by a pathologist, board certified geneticist, and two variant scientists to determine whether or not specific gene variations are pathogenic, unknown, or non-pathogenic. Clients can opt into additional experimental screening for their unknown (or “VUS”) variants through partner academic laboratories. Genetic counseling is also available after the samples have been tested.[3] Test are not delivered directly to the consumer, and must be ordered through a physician—either a family physician, specialist, or via the independent physicians that can be contacted through the Color Genomics website.[6] It is available in about 100 countries.[1]

Technological start-up companies have also begun to add Color Genomics testing to their medical benefits packages.[15]

In 2016, Color Genomics and University of Washington released a publicly available database of variants in 27 breast cancer genes based on samples from women who were over 70 years old and had never had breast cancer to serve as a scientific control in efforts to understand variants of uncertain significance. The samples were collected from samples given to the Women’s Health Initiative between 1993 and 2005.[16] In 2018, Color expanded its offering to include a $249 test for hereditary heart health.[17] The test analyzes 30 genes to look for risk of a wide range of hereditary heart conditions, including cardiac arrhythmias, cardiomyopathies, and arteriopathies.

On September 25, 2018, the NIH awarded Color funding for the All of Us Research program. On September 27, 2018, Color added a new health area, medication response, to analyze genes associated with commonly prescribed medications, and report on how those genes can influence how individuals process and respond to those medications.

References

  1. 1 2 "Genetic testing for the masses". The Australian. 2 May 2016.
  2. 1 2 Pettitt, Jeniece (10 November 2016). "How genetic testing companies are using automation to save time and money". CNBC.
  3. 1 2 "A Geneticist's Take on Cheaper Tests for Breast and Ovarian Cancer Risk". KQED.
  4. 1 2 Clark, Liat. "Color Genomics launches $249 breast cancer risk test". Wired.
  5. ↑ Gormley, Brian (27 September 2016). "WSJ Pro Venture Capital". Wall Street Journal.
  6. 1 2 3 "Why Twitter's Ex-Head of Media Left the Tech Industry for a Biotech Startup". Fortune Magazine.
  7. ↑ "23andMe's president is stepping down". Business Insider.
  8. ↑ "New Genetic Tests for Breast Cancer Hold Promise". The New York Times. 21 April 2015.
  9. ↑ "Color Genomics Raises $45 Million to Expand Genetic Testing". Bloomberg. 27 September 2016.
  10. ↑ "Color Genomics to Offer Patient Families Discounted Testing". The Journal of Precision Medicine. 29 September 2016.
  11. ↑ "These Ex-Googlers Want To Test You (And Your Family) For Cancer". Buzzfeed.
  12. ↑ "Color Genomics to Accept Insurance for Hereditary Cancer Risk Test".
  13. ↑ "Screening Tests For Breast Cancer Genes Just Got Cheaper". NPR.
  14. ↑ Lynley, Matthew. "Color Genomics raises $45 million to provide cheaper genetic tests that detect cancer risk". Tech Crunch.
  15. ↑ Cutler, Kim-Mai. "More Than A Dozen Startups Pledge To Cover Breast Cancer Testing Costs Through Color Genomics". Tech Crunch.
  16. ↑ Butkus, Ben (October 20, 2016). "At ASHG, UWash, Color Genomics Launch Free Database of Breast Cancer Gene Candidate Variants". Genome Web.
  17. ↑ https://gizmodo.com/colors-new-at-home-dna-test-tells-you-whether-youre-at-1823922568
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