Genome.One, OneOme Partner on Personalized Whole Genome and Health Assessment Service

Genome.One and OneOme said they will provide insights into individuals’ genetic risk of disease and pharmacogenomic responses through Australia’s first whole genome and health assessment service, under a partnership whose value was not disclosed.

The service will combine genome sequencing provided by Australian-based Genome.One and pharmacogenomic testing using the RightMed® test of U.S.-based OneOme.

RightMed analyzes an individual’s DNA to identify how that may affect his or her response to certain medications, such as predicting adverse drug reactions and drug effectiveness. RightMed was co-developed and exclusively licensed from the Mayo Clinic, with the goal of bringing pharmacogenomics into routine clinical care.

Results from the genome sequencing and pharmacogenomic testing will be incorporated into a comprehensive health assessment to be offered with Darlinghurst, Australia-based Life First. The assessment is intended to provide additional health and wellbeing information for a more comprehensive picture of an individual’s health, Genome.One and OneOme said.

The whole genome and health assessment service is delivered by health professionals who offer interpretation of results as well as support and advice to patients on how they can reduce identified risks, the companies said.

“Information included in the test report is based upon scientific literature and does not take into account other genetic variants and environmental or social factors that may affect a patient's response,” OneOme discloses on its website. “Other factors not included in the test report include, but are not limited to, environmental factors (e.g., smoking), health factors (e.g., diet), social and familial factors, various medical conditions and drug-drug interactions.”

Interpretations and clinical annotations provided through RightMed do not constitute medical advice by OneOme, the company also cautions.

“Information from our RightMed test can help healthcare providers make prescriptions more personal,” OneOme CEO Paul Owen said in a statement. “We believe in bringing the benefits of pharmacogenomics to everyone, and we’re thrilled to be partnering with Genome.One to make our service available to more people than ever before.”

OneOme is a Mayo Clinic spinout based in Minneapolis and formed to commercialize technology co-developed with, and exclusively licensed from, Mayo. Mayo Clinic is an investor in OneOme, along with early-stage venture firm Invenshure.

Genome.One is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Garvan Institute of Medical Research in Sydney. In July 2016, Genome.One launched Australia’s first clinical whole genome testing service, aimed at providing diagnoses that can guide the care of individuals who are affected by genetic disease.

“Our service can detect a person’s increased genetic risk for more than 49 conditions across more than 230 genes, which helps healthcare professionals to offer advice on how to reduce identified risks,” added Genome.One CEO Marcel Dinger, Ph.D. “Understanding the body’s response to 220 medications adds important insights into how a condition can be managed.”

“We believe that this service signals the beginning of a new era in understanding an individual’s health and the prevention and management of disease,” Dr. Dinger added.