Navigenics to launch in April 2008?

by Dr. Hsien-Hsien Lei
Posted March 13, 2008 in DNA Testing

No sign of an imminent launch on the Navigenics website but Portfolio.com reporter David Ewing Duncan said in an article dated March 5, 2008:

The Bay Area-based Navigenics will open for business next month with a site devoted to the DNA of disease, with WebMD-like links to A-list medical institutions and a feature the other two websites do not have—phone access to live genetic counselors. Navigenics plans to charge about $2,500, compared with about $1,000 for 23andMe and deCODEme.

Genomeboy Misha Angrist received a 20%-off coupon in early February but as far as I know, there was no launch date mentioned. Their website was launched in August of last year. Does anyone know if Navigenics will finally open its doors in April 2008?

By the way, Duncan also doesn’t think that the DNA testing market will ever reach the heights of the 90’s dotcoms or produce companies the size of Microsoft or Google. But with the help of tech people like Mike Arrington at TechCrunch tooting the genetic testing horn, I wouldn’t sell the business potential of genetic testing short. At least we can count on genetics and genomics to revolutionize healthcare and medicine as we know it.

Update: Navigenics will be launching in New York City on April 17. Official announcement via Genome Technology.

April 8, 2008 - Navigenics Health Compass is now available for purchase. For more, see my interview with Genetic Counseling Program Director, Elissa Levin.

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4 Comments »

Comment by NA

2008-03-13 20:23:37

Personalized genomic companies shouldn’t try to become a Microsoft or Google. They do have a genetic counseling program director listed as one of their employees.

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Comment by Hsien-Hsien Lei, PhD

2008-03-14 10:34:45

NA, There’s nothing wrong with making money. People gotta eat.

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Comment by NA

2008-03-14 16:09:35

Yes they need to eat. We wouldn’t want them to starve. What I was getting at is that a personalized genomics company shouldn’t have a goal (at the outset) of wanting to be as powerful as Google or Microsoft. I say this because the number of people a personalized genomics company can provide service to is much lower then a Google and Microsoft.

Peace!

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Comment by Steven Murphy MD

2008-03-15 18:19:18

Doesn’t every human being on the planet have DNA????
What about doggie DNA? Your plants????? With corporations your point of targeted testing is lost. So why not be the next Google….oh wait…because google is busy being the next Genomic Google

-Steve
http://www.helixhealth.org

 

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