Preventive genetic testing marks a breakthrough in the way we tackle disease: Dr. Surendra Chikara, Bione

Shahid Akhter, editor, ETHealthworld, spoke to?Dr. Surendra Chikara, Founder and CEO, Bione, to know more about the current market trends in D2C genetic testing.

Industry insights and trends in direct-to-consumer genetic testing segment

The Indian biotechnology sector was valued at USD 63 billion in 2019 and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 16.4% to USD 150 billion by 2025.The direct-to-consumer genetic testing segment is estimated to account for a major share of this segment driven by the prevalence of chronic diseases and the introduction of customized testing kits like Bione’s kits. The use of D2C genetic testing kits is quickly increasing in the west and it is only a matter of time before this is seen in the Indian market as well. Globally, the market for personalized nutrition based on DNA and microbiome testing is projected to grow from USD 8.2 billion in 2020 to USD 16.4 billion in 2025 with a CAGR of 15%. The Indian market for personalized supplements is expected to grow to USD 1 billion by 2026 with a CAGR of 17.6%. Hence, this sector is definitely one that offers a lot of potential and is growing at a really fast pace.

Impact of Genetic testing on medical expenses

There is a clear difference between normal genetic testing and preventive genetic testing. Conventionally, a person is asked to take a genetic test when he already has a condition that could be caused by a genetic abnormality. He goes to the hospital or clinic, and his doctor asks him to take the test to get a better idea about his genetic predisposition to the disease.

In contrast, preventive genetic testing or D2C testing involves taking an at-home genetic test to understand disease risk. The customer gets a detailed report advising him of steps he can take to reduce the risk and thus prevent or mitigate disease.

Preventive genetic testing marks a breakthrough in the way we tackle disease, giving us a chance to prevent or manage disease well before it becomes serious. We can prevent, diagnose and even reverse common conditions like food sensitivities, diabetes, hypertension, and heart disease. With the scope it offers for precision healthcare, it helps to avoid a “trial and error” approach in terms of medications and clinical investigations. The impact this has on costs and quality of life is significant.

The gut microbiome also has a major impact on the functioning of other organ systems. Getting an overview of your gut health status through a gut microbiome test can help take corrective action to reduce disease risk. The two tests together offer a holistic health solution.

To understand the impact preventive genetic testing can have on healthcare costs, take the case of a person who has diabetes. India currently has 77 million people with diabetes and it is projected to soon increase to 82 million. On average, a person with diabetes spends at least USD 20,000 every year on tests and medications. This can continue for 30 to 40 years depending on the age at which the disease is diagnosed and how it progresses. Similarly, when a person has heart disease or Alzheimer’s, treatment costs can go up to 20 to 30 lakhs, not to mention the heavy emotional toll on the patient and the family members.

Impact of pandemic the D2C sector?

The impact of the pandemic has been particularly profound on those with chronic diseases like heart disease and diabetes. They were more vulnerable to Covid-19 as well as the secondary infections. People now understand to a greater extent the need for preventive healthcare. They want to reduce their risk for chronic diseases. The spotlight has shifted from the treatment of chronic diseases to their prevention. This is where preventive genetic testing comes in.

In general, the public is more receptive to the concept of preventive healthcare through at-home genetic tests. We need to stop treating disease as and when it comes. We should instead make informed health choices to prevent disease from occurring in the first place. People have realized the need to shift from a disease oriented approach to a more proactive approach.

What led you to start Bione?.

I started my genomics journey way back in 2005 - 2006. I have 20 plus years of experience in the field of genomics. The main inspiration for setting up Bione was the heavy financial burden caused at the global, national and individual levels by chronic diseases. The emotional impact on individuals and their families is also quite high. As the first person to bring Next Generation Sequencing to India, I felt that I could be part of the solution to this serious problem. Many of these diseases are preventable or can be diagnosed at an early stage for better management with preventive genetic testing.

Bione is the first company in Asia to offer both DNA and gut microbiome testing. DNA testing identifies disease risk and helps to optimize your fitness. Chronic gut inflammation can lead to more than 40 illnesses like diabetes, joint pain and heart disease. Bione offers both genetic and gut microbiome tests for a complete wellness solution.

We essentially have two products - LongiFIT, a DNA test, and MyMicrobiome, a gut microbiome test. Our DNA test uses a technique called Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) to analyze the genetic profile of a person and thus predict disease risk, nutritional requirements, and food sensitivities. A person’s DNA never changes, so this test needs to be done only once in life.

Our vision is to make wellness accessible and affordable for all with personalized health insights. I believe we are making steady progress in this regard by helping people to understand and manage their disease risk. Bione started with just three employees in 2019. Today, we are 60 plus employees and we are planning to increase this to 200 in the coming years.

What are the major challenges you have faced?

The primary challenge when it comes to preventive genetic testing is the lack of awareness. The concept in people’s minds is that genetic testing is a process that is highly expensive, time consuming and involves going to a hospital or clinic. This used to be true earlier, but now technology has advanced to the point where you can order an at-home genetic test product that is affordable, simple to use, and is easily accessible. The test is delivered to your doorstep and the sample is collected from your home. We need to spread awareness among doctors, dieticians and fitness centres as well as the general public about the utility of these kits and how accessible and affordable they are.

Our second challenge was to make our tests easily accessible. This is where the expertise of our IT and logistics team came into play. They have now made it possible for our customers to order our tests with a single click for delivery to their doorstep within the shortest possible time.

Another challenge was that we needed consistent guidelines. The Direct Selling Guidelines of 2016 and the Consumer Protection (Direct Selling) Rules of 2021 from the government of India were definitely a good step in this direction. We are shortly expecting revised guidelines regarding direct to consumer genetic testing.

As a startup, we are always on the lookout for opportunities to further improve our technology and products to meet the specific needs of our customers with regard to their healthcare needs.