\u201cDNA screening for the important moments in life\u201d, says Counsyl\u2019s website, with family vignettes playing on loop on the site\u2019s background. Counsyl sells a genetic test, such that via a blood or saliva sample, couples seeking to have children can check their likelihood for passing on 100 different diseases. The test is offered for sub-$700, a stark comparison to other testing done today which can cost thousands of dollars while only checking for one disease, and even then being limited to certain ethnic groups. Some insurers are even covering the testing offered by Counsyl, slashing the cost to sub-$100. Armed with this previously hard-to-come-by information, couples can choose whether or not to act, for example by pursuing in vitro fertilization. Counsyl reports \u201c35-40% of people tested\u201d as being carriers for at least one disease in the test, with both members of the couple being carriers for the same disease in approximately 0.7% of cases.<\/p>\n
The pricing of the tests is a key factor in the company\u2019s business model, by allowing Counsyl access to as much data as possible (as opposed to pricing higher and attracting a small user base). The company is \u201ccreating rule sets for how to understand what different mutations mean\u201d and is processing a half-a-terabyte of data per day. As the company performs more tests they improve in DNA data interpretation; in fact if \u201cone were to take all of the published research papers associated with all of the mutations that Counsyl tests for, it would take five work years to read them all\u201d.<\/p>\n
The company\u2019s business model directly reinforces the data-driven mission of the company by allowing them to offer the tests for such a price. Referred to as \u201cthe Jeff Bezos of bioinformatics\u201d, one of the company\u2019s co-founders constantly seeks ways to make the testing as efficient as possible, from in-house image processing software slashing testing errors, robotic arms to handle trays of samples, to billing infrastructure to help the company manage its 700 insurer relationships. In building its lab from the ground up, not originally part of the company\u2019s plans, Counsyl was able to ensure that they could build in a way most conducive to their operation, and to scaling.<\/p>\n
And the model is self-reinforcing. By building in such a way to be as cost-effective and speedy as possible, Counsyl is able to offer the lowest prices and test for the highest number of diseases. The company is able to attract a larger user base with its pricing choice, thereby pulling in even more data by which to improve its testing, further attracting later customers. Counsyl wants to move beyond testing during pregnancy planning, becoming part of the conversation as customers move through their life. The key for the company is in making the data actionable, which they strive to do in how they offer the data, and by getting involved early on as couples examine their genetics. The model puts Counsyl in a very defensible position as they wade into these uncharted waters.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
\u201cDNA screening for the important moments in life\u201d, says Counsyl\u2019s website, with family vignettes playing on loop on the site\u2019s background. Counsyl sells a genetic test, such that via a blood or saliva sample, couples seeking to have children can […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":38,"featured_media":2717,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","template":"","categories":[993,1004],"class_list":["post-2716","hck-submission","type-hck-submission","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-bigdata","category-genetictesting"],"connected_submission_link":"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-digit\/assignment\/data-driven-value-creation-value-capture-and-operating-models\/","yoast_head":"\n