Death Knell to DTC Genomics?

I was sent this article 6 times in the last 6 hours by friends and colleagues.

What's the article? "Genes Show Limited Value in Predicting Diseases"

I say deathblow to the DTC Genomics, because this article points out the issues surrounding using this limited information......

"This method, called a genomewide association study, has proved technically successful despite many skeptics’ initial doubts. But it has been disappointing in that the kind of genetic variation it detects has turned out to explain surprisingly little of the genetic links to most diseases."

What are the majority of reports you can get from 23andME or Navigenics or DecodeMe?


Reports which rely on "GENOMEWIDE ASSOCIATION STUDIES"


Not that there aren't any great genome wide associations......I think of Age Related Macular Degeneration for one.......but for every great study, there are 20 crappy studies. Which, to the unskilled observer could be made to look just as powerful. And then Silicon Valley Style Hyped, to make it to market.


I repeat, the utility of GWAS studies in Public Health NEED to be studied. Just like they are with the Coriell Personalized Medicine Collaborative.



But selling this information to people at a cost of 400 to 2500???? Sketchy at best!

From the NYT article...

"These companies are probably not performing any useful service at present, said David B. Goldstein, a Duke University geneticist who wrote one of the commentaries appearing in the journal.
“With only a few exceptions, what the genomics companies are doing right now is recreational genomics,” Dr. Goldstein said in an interview. “The information has little or in many cases no clinical relevance.”


Which is why I am aligning myself with some good People from Long Island who have been shouting this from the rooftops for about it.

A great example is this perspectives article precisely about this topic in the New England Journal of Medicine this week!!! (Only 3 this time Daniel)

Useless DTC Genomics? Not exactly. Someone is making money and has some use for it.......


The Sherpa Says: A good clinician saw this coming from a mile away. Why couldn't Venture Capital? Or the Public? Or the Scientists???? Funny, I just gave the same lecture to medical underwriters for the life insurance industry on the 14th,,,,,,

The Sherpa Reaches 20,000

Thank you to all of my readers. I hope we have hit a significant landmark. I know the climbing will be tougher now. I hope you too are prepared for the next phase of this ascent. Remember, getting there is only part of the battle.

The 24th edition of the Genie is up. 24 is my lucky number and this edition delivers, so check it out.

The news that I will announce has to be delayed until Thursday. Sorry, but the legal dept. just won't budge. As for the news....here's a hint. National exposure.

I am dying to deliver my message and have been speaking to the public and the press about this topic. Lee, if you can hear me. Please give a call.

Some great things have popped up over the last week

• The prostate cancer risk genes and Family history. Guess what? Family history doubles the risk which the genes confer. Big surprise!


• EGAPP issues its guidance on ONCOTypeDX. Close to ready for prime time. MammaPrint, too soon to tell.


• Six new genes and Cholesterol? Get the genetic tests? No. Go get your cholesterol checked.


• Searching for your ancestry? Wind up finding cancer! If this happens to you give Helix Health of Connecticut a call


• The Gene Count drops to 20k! Should be easy for Google to catalog that.

Stay Tuned!