Hospitals can now develop DNA products with Helix's genomics API

Jessica Kim Cohen -

Helix, a direct-to-consumer genomics company, unveiled a set of tools to help clinical and consumer organizations develop what it calls "DNA-powered products," such as genomic tests or polygenic risk scores.

The set of tools, dubbed the DNA Product Studio, enables outside organizations to bring new products to Helix's marketplace, from concept to launch in just a few weeks. In July 2017, Helix launched the first online marketplace to offer customers personalized products based on genetic testing, such as tools related to ancestry, fitness and nutrition.

The goal of the marketplace is to "make genomics accessible and actionable for every person," Helix CEO Robin Thurston said in a July 2017 statement announcing the marketplace.

DNA Product Studio offers outside organizations access to data from Helix's next-generation sequencing lab through various application programming interfaces — sets of tools that help different applications communicate with one another. The Insight API, for example, provides access to data on users' genetic traits, and the Genomics API provides access to information on users' base pairs.

Helix also offers services related to scientific evidence evaluation, policy review, security review, sample collection and data storage.

"We want to help partners tap into the rapidly growing market for personal genomics," Chris Glode, chief product officer of Helix, said in a news release. "We're making product development easier, pioneering new avenues for preventive health products to reach the market."

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