Mint DIS 2023 | Knowledge of genealogy can help fight diseases better: Mapmygenome CEO

A startup in Hyderabad is trying to use technology to help people understand their genome better. Speaking at the Mint Digital Innovation Summit on June 9, Anu Acharya, founder and CEO of Mapmygenome, said that understanding one’s genealogy can help individuals fight diseases better.

“Just like a Google map which helps you find the distance between places and the right location or route, genome mapping is used to identify and record the location of genes and the distances between genes on a chromosome, and helps you understand what diseases you are susceptible to and their prevention, in order live a healthy lifestyle,” said Acharya said.

The Hyderabad-based company has built something called Genomepatri (derived from two words - Janam and patri, means a person’s horoscope or birth chart, and in this case a genome chart), which aims to provide a comprehensive assessment of genetic risk of lifestyle diseases, predisposition to traits, carrier status and drug responses. 

“While Genomepatri is a personal report of an individual’s genetic makeup, it offers much more. While an individual looks at their genetic makeup, they also need to look at their family and health history in order to make an interpretation of what needs to be done to reduce the risk,” Acharya, who graduated from the Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur, said.

The startup sends a cheek swab to the consumer, to collect a sample of their DNA, along with a consent form. It then analyzes this sample and provides a counseling session, along with health recommendations for the user.

According to Acharya, the startup had to face challenges initially, but the trend picked up post the covid-19 pandemic. She said 

Market research firm Grandview Research pegs the global genomics market size at $28.09 billion in 2022 and said it is projected to witness a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 16.5% from 2023 to 2030. The growth of the genomics market is attributed to factors such as the growing demand for gene therapy, personalized medicine, drug discovery, increasing cancer incidence, as well as partnerships between research institutes and companies. 

There are already several prominent global companies in this space, such as Thermo Fisher Scientific, Agilent Technologies, BGI Group, GE Healthcare and 23andMe, Ancestry, MyHeritage, and more. Competition within India too is lining up: from firms like Mahajan Imaging, Premas Life Sciences, NuGenomics, MedGenome and Strand Life Sciences, among others.

Further, billionaire Mukesh Ambani’s Reliance Industries is reportedly getting into genetic mapping by acquiring Bengaluru-based Strand Life Sciences in 2021. In March, Ramesh Hariharan, chief executive officer of Strand Life Sciences, which has developed the product, said Reliance will roll out a comprehensive ₹12,000 ($145) genome sequencing test soon.