近日，个人基因检测服务领域的领导者“23andme”与英国最大的药妆店Superdrug联合宣布，在Superdrug网站及旗下英国600多家实体店推出CE认证的个人基因组服务(PGS)，售价124.99英镑（约合185.53美元），此举将为消费者提供网上购买之外的另一种选择。
这也是23andme首次在零售服务业中推出其基因检测服务，将为大众提供一种价格上能够承受的基因检测服务，方便了解个人健康及家族遗传方面的信息，包括与某些遗传性疾病（如如囊性纤维化、镰状细胞贫血等）相关的基因信息，以及与特定疾病（如凝血、阿尔茨海默氏症、帕金森氏症等）相关的遗传风险因素；此外，消费者还可以获取家族的完整遗传报告以及与吸烟、饮食及锻炼等性状相关的遗传信息。
23andMe在声明中表示，此次与Superdrug合作标志着该公司的一个重要里程碑。23andMe的使命是帮助人们获取、了解并从人类基因组中受益。就在几个月前，23andMe的个人基因组服务（PGS）获得了英国监管机构的批准，扩大了该公司的基因检测服务市场。在美国，FDA于2013年叫停了23andMe的99美元基因检测服务，并指责该公司未取得监管批准及所需的相关数据即开始向个人销售基因检测服务。随后，23andMe撤回了在电视、网络及广播电台的产品广告。
从那以后，23andMe开辟了另一条道路，与生物制药商签署合作协议，提供其基因组数据辅助新药的研发，同时成立了一个新的集团专注于治疗领域。今年1月，23andMe与罗氏旗下基因泰克签署了一项6000美元的协议；之后，该公司再度牵手辉瑞，允许辉瑞访问其数据研究平台，其中包括80多万人的基因数据。3月初，23andMe又宣布成立一个新的制药公司，并聘请基因泰克前副总裁Richard Scheller担任首席科学官，利用人类基因组数据识别并开发用于常见和罕见疾病的新疗法。
在美国市场，尽管23andMe与FDA尚未重修旧好，但双方在今年初也进行了一些互动；就在今年2月，FDA批准了23andMe研发的针对布卢姆综合征（Bloom syndrome）的唾液检测试剂盒及阵列芯片平台。
关于Superdrug：
Superdrug是亚洲和欧洲最大的国际健康美容零售商——屈臣氏集团（A.S. Waston Group）的一部分；而屈臣氏集团又隶属于亚洲首富李嘉诚控股的和记黄埔有限公司（Hutchison Whampoa Limited)。
英文原文：23andMe's Personal Genome Service® is Now Available For Purchase at Superdrug
23andMe's Personal Genome Service® is Now Available For Purchase at Superdrug
Superdrug is the First Retailer to Carry 23andMe's Direct-to-Consumer Genetic Test in Stores Across the UK
30th March 2015 – 23andMe, Inc., the leading personal genetics company, and health and beauty retailer Superdrug today announced that 23andMe's CE marked Personal Genome Service® (PGS) is now available at over 600 Superdrug stores across the UK. Kits will be available for £124.99, and will provide customers with an alternative to purchasing the kit online.
This is the first time 23andMe has offered its service in a retail setting. 23andMe provides affordable access to personal genetic information, allowing people to explore more about their health and ancestry. The service includes information on genes associated with certain inherited conditions such as Cystic Fibrosis or Sickle Cell Anaemia, and genetic risk factors for certain diseases or conditions such as blood clotting, Alzheimer's disease or Parkinson's disease.
In addition to learning about your health, 23andMe allows you to learn more about the genetics behind certain traits, like whether or not you may be a more frequent smoker, how you metabolise caffeine and how your body may respond to diet and exercise. 23andMe also provides a full genetic ancestry report, so you can trace your family's genetic roots, and potentially discover and communicate with new relatives as part of 23andMe's DNA Relatives feature.
"We are excited about the prospects of our collaboration with Superdrug, which marks a significant milestone for our company," said Andy Page, President of 23andMe. "Our mission is to help people access, understand and benefit from the human genome. We believe that being able to conveniently purchase a 23andMe kit at more than 600 Superdrug locations across the UK serves to improve accessibility for UK customers."
Steve Gray, Healthcare Director for Superdrug said: "At Superdrug we are continually evolving our health and wellbeing product range as part of our commitment to providing the most accessible healthcare on the high street. We're delighted to be the first retail partner for 23andMe and help people actively take steps to look after their health." 23andMe will be available from superdrug.com and found in over 600 Superdrug stores in the pain relief aisle. It will be supported through in-store point of sale.
As the leading personal genetics company, 23andMe's mission is to ensure that people can access, understand and benefit from the human genome. 23andMe enables UK customers to access their own genetic information to gain insights into their health, better understand their ancestry and explore traits that make them unique.