The US FDA has granted consumer genetics provider 23andMe permission to continue providing customers with health data, two years after the regulator forced it to comply with an order to cease offering its services. In a letter sent on Friday to the company and obtained by Motherboard, regulators said that they were concerned about “potential risks associated with your continued use of personal genetic information collected from consumers.” Previously, the company offered far more details to consumers, and at a lower price point of $99, however, crucially, this time with FDA approval. Earlier this month, J. Craig Venter announced that his Human Longevity outfit was to enter into partnership with Discovery Ltd to offer whole exome sequencing, at a $250 price point.
The US FDA has granted consumer genetics provider 23andMe permission to continue providing customers with health data, two years after the regulator forced it to comply with an order to cease offering its services. 23andMe will now offer substantially less information than before the halt to customers, who will pay $199 to receive information on genetic mutations that can lead to 36 diseases, including cystic fibrosis and sickle-cell anemia. Previously, the company offered far more details to consumers, and at a lower price point of $99, however, crucially, this time with FDA approval. Earlier this month, J. Craig Venter announced that his Human Longevity outfit was to enter into partnership with Discovery Ltd to offer whole exome sequencing, at a $250 price point.