US FDA approves first home DNA test for 10 diseases
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the country’s first at-home DNA test that lets people find out their genetic risk for certain diseases. Following the approval, home DNA test company 23andMe will be able to directly market its gene tests for 10 diseases, including Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s and some rare blood diseases.
“These are the first direct-to-consumer (DTC) tests authorized by the FDA that provide information on an individual’s genetic predisposition to certain medical diseases or conditions, which may help to make decisions about lifestyle choices or to inform discussions with a health care professional,” the FDA said in a statement.
“Consumers can now have direct access to certain genetic risk information,” said Dr. Jeffrey Shuren, director of the FDA’s Center for Devices and Radiological Health, which approves these kinds of tests.”But it is important that people understand that genetic risk is just one piece of the bigger puzzle. It does not mean they will or won’t ultimately develop a disease.”
A person’s genes almost never make for a 100% risk of any disease. Instead, many different genes usually interact with a person’s lifestyle and other factors to cause disease. For instance, the National Institute on Aging (NIA) notes that many genes are involved in developing Alzheimer’s disease, and it’s not clear how much each one raises the risk.
“It is unlikely that genetic testing will ever be able to predict the disease with 100 percent accuracy, researchers believe, because too many other factors may influence its development and progression,” the NIA, one of the National Institutes of Health, says on its website.
And some genetic mutations are inherited, some develop before birth, and some occur as people live their lives. How, where and when these changes develop can affect whether such changes causes disease.
The FDA’s decision, which is sure to stir up controversy, is a big turnaround from 2013, when the FDA singled out 23andMe, ordering the company to stop marketing its over-the-counter gene test.
23andMe is especially aggressive in marketing its home tests, usually offered as saliva tests that customers can send in for analysis.
This test does not include checks for genes that predispose people to cancer. They look instead for DNA variation involved in 10 conditions:
- Parkinson’s disease
- Late-onset Alzheimer’s disease
- Celiac disease, which causes the inability to digest gluten.
- Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency, a disorder that raises the risk of lung and liver disease. More than 100 different genetic variations of the gene have been identified and only some are linked with deficiency.
- Early-onset primary dystonia, a movement disorder involving involuntary muscle contractions and other uncontrolled movements.
- Factor XI deficiency, a blood clotting disorder caused by certain mutations in a gene called F11.
- Gaucher disease type 1, an organ and tissue disorder caused by mutations in the GBA gene.
- Glucose-6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase deficiency, also known as G6PD, a red blood cell condition.
- Hereditary hemochromatosis, an iron overload disorder caused by mutations in at least five different genes.
- Hereditary thrombophilia, a blood clot disorder.
The FDA says these are all serious conditions and customers must first click an acknowledgement that they understand the results could cause them anxiety, FDA spokeswoman Tara Goodin said.
The FDA said it reviewed the tests through a new process, and consumers can expect more such tests to hit the market now.
“In addition, the FDA intends to exempt additional 23andMe genetic health risk tests from the FDA’s premarket review, and genetic health risk tests from other makers may be exempt after submitting their first premarket notification,” the FDA said.
“A proposed exemption of this kind would allow other, similar tests to enter the market as quickly as possible and in the least burdensome way, after a one-time FDA review.”
