3 ms·

I don't know the space well, but I have been in a position to have purchased a few (IIRC at least 4) genetic tests used in clinical diagnoses. 23andMe was not a

by runako 6y ago

I don't know the space well, but I have been in a position to have purchased a few (IIRC at least 4) genetic tests used in clinical diagnoses. 23andMe was not a vendor that was used in any of those situations. Also, those tests cost a lot more than 23andMe's tests (this can be good if you are an investor). Even if you suspect something based on a 23&M test, your doctor will likely require confirmation from a clinical testing company. That's IMHO where the money is. 23&me is analogous to the over-the-counter tests they sell in the drugstore, which we know are a cheaper alternative than a "real" lab test. > who else comes close to doing what they do? The other vendors in the space who are used in clinical environments ("real" lab tests). Think Lab Corp (LH) as an example. You might also look at the constituents of the ARKG ETF for other options. These are companies that have demand locked in through relationships with healthcare providers and are also able to charge more for their tests. None of this is investment advice. Obviously you should not take investment advice from strangers on the Internet.

breck 6y ago
Yeah Lab Corp and all them work a lot on the supply side, but last mile consumer experience is awful. I think it's equally as hard to perfect that last mile consumer UX and distribution challenge, and probably more valuable long run (if you own the customer relationship, you have a lot of leverage to negotiate prices with vendors, and swap them out lego lego pieces, a la Apple). Not to say that 23andMe will be the Apple of the space (and realistically Apple with Apple Health has a good shot at it), but I definitely don't think anyone wasting time with the B2B businesses will be the big gorilla in 10 - 20 years, and instead it will be a consumer facing company like 23andMe or someone.
- runako 6y ago
  > last mile consumer experience is awful Interesting perspective. When we used labs similar to LabCorp in the past, the last mile was our physician (who we like!). I'm curious what part of the last mile is negative with traditional labs? > if you own the customer relationship I'm not sure any testing provider is ever going to be in a position to own the customer relationship. The physician and healthcare team will by definition always be closer to the customer. Also I should have noted above: I don't have to worry about Lab Corp or my doctor selling my health information due to HIPAA compliance. That may be generational; perhaps younger generations will not care about this aspect of privacy.
  - breck 6y ago
    > I'm curious what part of the last mile is negative > with traditional labs? Well for one, why do I even have to go a mile? I've spent some time on the bench. All of this stuff will eventually be done at home (won't even need to mail in things!). Last February when I got COVID I couldn't get a test because "I hadn't been to China". But they tested me for perhaps everything else (even though I had been exposed to COVID folks, and had the symptomns). Not surprisingly everything was negative (except for typical metabolic changes you see in fighting viruses). The best part was 6 months later I got a bill in the mail for I kid you not, ~$1,800, for these lab tests! Insurer says "if it was March then those tests would have been covered, but because it was February we didn't have those policieis in place yet". Still fighting that one, lol. But recent events aside, let's just take a typical lab results report. Where's the "go to definitions" on these things? Where is the ability to drill in and see where my measurements fit in regard to my close 8 billion relatives? This industry is still in the stone age. > The physician and healthcare team will by definition > always be closer to the customer. And the wearables will by definition always be closer to the customer. I am not going to tell my daughter that being a physician is a viable future career like it is today (engineer or nurse would be 2 good options though). > perhaps younger generations will not care about this aspect of privacy. I agree. Or at least, I hope younger generations continue Obama's work and fix the laws so that your health information cannot be used against you. What a sad and stupid state of affairs that is. We need to fix that.

by runako 6y ago

breck 6y ago

Yeah Lab Corp and all them work a lot on the supply side, but last mile consumer experience is awful. I think it's equally as hard to perfect that last mile consumer UX and distribution challenge, and probably more valuable long run (if you own the customer relationship, you have a lot of leverage to negotiate prices with vendors, and swap them out lego lego pieces, a la Apple). Not to say that 23andMe will be the Apple of the space (and realistically Apple with Apple Health has a good shot at it), but I definitely don't think anyone wasting time with the B2B businesses will be the big gorilla in 10 - 20 years, and instead it will be a consumer facing company like 23andMe or someone.

runako 6y ago
> last mile consumer experience is awful Interesting perspective. When we used labs similar to LabCorp in the past, the last mile was our physician (who we like!). I'm curious what part of the last mile is negative with traditional labs? > if you own the customer relationship I'm not sure any testing provider is ever going to be in a position to own the customer relationship. The physician and healthcare team will by definition always be closer to the customer. Also I should have noted above: I don't have to worry about Lab Corp or my doctor selling my health information due to HIPAA compliance. That may be generational; perhaps younger generations will not care about this aspect of privacy.
- breck 6y ago
  > I'm curious what part of the last mile is negative > with traditional labs? Well for one, why do I even have to go a mile? I've spent some time on the bench. All of this stuff will eventually be done at home (won't even need to mail in things!). Last February when I got COVID I couldn't get a test because "I hadn't been to China". But they tested me for perhaps everything else (even though I had been exposed to COVID folks, and had the symptomns). Not surprisingly everything was negative (except for typical metabolic changes you see in fighting viruses). The best part was 6 months later I got a bill in the mail for I kid you not, ~$1,800, for these lab tests! Insurer says "if it was March then those tests would have been covered, but because it was February we didn't have those policieis in place yet". Still fighting that one, lol. But recent events aside, let's just take a typical lab results report. Where's the "go to definitions" on these things? Where is the ability to drill in and see where my measurements fit in regard to my close 8 billion relatives? This industry is still in the stone age. > The physician and healthcare team will by definition > always be closer to the customer. And the wearables will by definition always be closer to the customer. I am not going to tell my daughter that being a physician is a viable future career like it is today (engineer or nurse would be 2 good options though). > perhaps younger generations will not care about this aspect of privacy. I agree. Or at least, I hope younger generations continue Obama's work and fix the laws so that your health information cannot be used against you. What a sad and stupid state of affairs that is. We need to fix that.