University College London Uses 3D Printers to Create Custom Prescriptions, What Does That Mean for Clinical Laboratories and Precision Medicine?

As 3D printing technology gains acceptance with pharmaceutical companies, clinical laboratories could see increased demand for pharmacogenomic testing Will physicians someday “print” prescription drugs for patients in-office? It sounds like science fiction, but research being conducted at the University College London (UCL) indicates the capability may be closer than we think, and it could bring about a new type of collaboration between clinical laboratories, ordering physicians, and...

Researchers Identify Antibodies That Could Be Protective Against Multiple Sarbecoviruses, Including SARS-CoV-2 and Its Variants

The antibodies target portions of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein that resist mutation, potentially leading to better treatments and vaccines One challenge in the battle against COVID-19 is the emergence of SARS-CoV-2 variants, especially the Delta variant, which may be more resistant to neutralizing antibodies compared with the original coronavirus. But now, scientists led by researchers at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center (Fred Hutch) in Seattle say they have identified antibodies...

Genetic Test Company 23andMe Completes Merger with Richard Branson’s VG Acquisition Corp., Stock Now Trades on NASDAQ

23andMe executives say they plan to leverage their database of millions of customer genotypes ‘to help accelerate personalized healthcare at scale,’ a key goal of precision medicine In what some financial analysts believe may be an indication that popularity of direct-to-consumer (DTC) genetic testing among customers who seek info on their ethnic background and genetic predisposition to disease is waning, personal genomics/biotechnology company 23andMe announced it has completed its merger...

Consumer Genetic Testing Company 23andMe to Merge with Sir Richard Branson’s VG Acquisition Corp. and Go Public

The merger is expected to boost investment in 23andMe’s consumer health and therapeutics businesses After years of spectacular growth, the popularity of direct-to-consumer (DTC) genetic testing is beginning to wane. Nevertheless, opportunities still exist in the DTC genetic testing market for visionaries with funds to invest. One such visionary is billionaire Richard Branson, founder of the multinational venture capital conglomerate Virgin Group (VG). Branson’s VG Acquisition Corp....

Blackstone Buys Stake in Ancestry for $4.7 Billion, While Interest in Direct-to-Consumer Genealogy Genetic Tests May Be Fading Among Consumers

Though gene sequencing is touted as a key component of precision medicine, the medical value of direct-to-consumer testing has yet to show up in improved health outcomes, nor have clinical laboratories benefitted In a recent example that the market for genetic genealogy testing may have peaked and the days of spectacular growth in the number of direct-to-consumer (DTC) genetic test orders and revenue is over, private-equity firm Blackstone—in a $4.7 billion deal—announced it will acquire a...
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