Consumer genetics company 23andMe is partnering with TrialSpark to help accelerate the pace, quality and experience of clinical trials, according to STAT.
The company plans to help match its customers with nearby study sites based on their disease, demographics and DNA.
The partnership comes as 23andMe moves into drug development, mining its database for therapeutic targets and entering research partnerships with drugmakers, universities and other nonprofits.
23andMe's foray into clinical trial management could be a major appeal for customers, STAT reports. Its kits could help patients find major diseases hidden in their genes and match them with the best experimental drugs.
Under the partnership, 23andMe will hand off its nearly 8 million engaged customers to TrialSpark, which will help enroll patients in clinical trials near their homes.
Read the full report here.