Through deCODEme, the world's first retail genome analysis service, deCODE genetics announced the launch of the first focused genetic scans for assessing personal risk of several major cardiovascular diseases and common cancers deCODEme Cardio, which detects genetic risk factors for heart attack, stroke and atrial fibrillation, peripheral artery disease (PAD), and several other conditions, is offered at an introductory price of $195. deCODEme Cancer measures genetic risk factors for prostate, lung, bladder, skin and colorectal cancers, as well as the common form of breast cancer, at an introductory price of $225. Both can be ordered as a bundle for $350.
"The common diseases, including cardiovascular conditions such as heart attack and stroke, as well as the common forms of cancer in women and men, result from both genetic and environmental risk factors. We are all familiar with many of the environmental and lifestyle factors that impact our risk of these diseases, and we know that addressing these risk factors can lower our risk of disease," said Kari Stefansson, CEO of deCODE.
Kari continued, "Building on our discoveries of inherited risk factors for these diseases, our goal is to help individuals understand the genetic side of the equation. This empowering information may enable people, on their own or working with their doctors, to make more informed decisions to protect their health. In an age when we are encouraged to take more responsibility for our health, we believe that we should all be able to use understanding of our genome to do stay healthy. deCODEme opened the era of the personal genome scan, and deCODEme Cardio and deCODEme Cancer offer individuals who wish to better understand their risk of particular diseases a focused means of doing so."
The scans - deCODEme Cardio and deCODEme Cancer - build on deCODE's global leadership in the discovery of common variations in the sequence of the human genome conferring increased risk of common diseases. They combine the latest science and highest quality analysis as only deCODE can. The scans are based on assays custom designed by deCODE scientists to detect the single-letter genetic variations (called SNPs) with the biggest impact on disease risk. These are SNPs validated in large-scale studies by deCODE as well as leading academic research institutions. DNA Analysis is conducted in deCODE's own CLIA-registered laboratory, one of the largest genotyping facilities in the world. Subscribers have access to genetic counselling. Many deCODE customers have already employed the results of deCODEme and the company's range of DNA-based risk assessment tests to improve and protect their health.
deCODEme Cardio measures 8 SNPs associated with the risk of heart attack, intracranical and abdominal aortic aneurysm, stroke and atrial fibrillation, peripherial arterial disease (PAD) and venous thromboempolism. deCODEme Cancer measures 29 SNPs associated with risk of prostate, lung, bladder and colorectal cancers, as well as basal cell carcinoma and the common form of breast cancer. Based upon which versions of these SNPs they carry, subscribers will receive a secure online profile presenting their results. Results are presented both in terms of relative risk compared to the general population, as well as absolute lifetime risk, which is the percentage likelihood that an individual will develop a disease in their lifetime, which is their relative risk multiplied by the average lifetime risk in the population.
The results also explain what other risk factors interact with genetic risk to increase or decrease the likelihood of developing a given disease, as well as how subscribers may wish to follow up with their doctor to optimize the prevention or early detection of these diseases. deCODEme offers genetic counselling to all its subscribers, and deCODE counsellors can be consulted via email or by telephone.