Mygene
 | |
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Biotechnology |
| Founded | [Melbourne 2007] |
| Founder | Harry Banaharis |
| Defunct | September 11, 2013 |
| Fate | Dissolved |
| Headquarters | , |
Key people | David Koadlow, Chairman, Nick Argyrou, CEO, Dr Graeme Smith, CSO |
| Services | Genetic testing |
| Owner | MyGene Holdings Pty Ltd |
Number of employees | 15 |
| Subsidiaries |
|
| Website | archive-au |
MyGene Pty. Ltd. was a privately held genetic testing services company located in Melbourne, Australia that owned and operated an accredited on-site laboratory.
MyGene specialised in the development of genetic tests and interpretive reports that assessed the genetic contribution of personal response to diet, also known as nutrigenetics.
Founding
MyGene was conceived and established by Harry Banaharis during work done in profiling umbilical cord blood and mesenchymal stem cells. In 2006, he deployed a prototype gene testing laboratory, centered around a Biotage pyrosequencing instrument for analysing single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), housed within the Alfred Hospital research centre where he used it to generate data to support his Honours thesis.[1]
MyGene's first "DNA to data" commercial laboratory was established at Melbourne CBD in 2007 and its first direct to consumer genetic testing kit released was the Sports Performance Gene Test. It analysed 2 genes known to vary in power versus endurance athletes, ACTN3 and ACE I/D and a gene associated with impact sports head injury APOE4.
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The MyGene Genetic Testing Kit with 2 coded swabs for buccal collection and customer ID card -
Detail of collection swabs and customer ID card -
Mygene Sports Performance Gene Test Brochure
In 2009 Harry Banaharis was joined by Nick Argyrou, a property developer and former SelecTV director and his wife Helen Argyrou, a pharmacy entrepreneur. The Argyrou's were keen to commercialise a meal replacement formulation based on a genetic test and Graeme Smith, a biochemist and biomedical researcher was recruited to help formulate the nutrigenetic meal replacement variants and develop an accompanying weight loss program.
Nutrigenetics
MyGene's novel approach to predicting the hereditary component of dietary response was to test for variations in genes that were known to be associated with disorders of glucose and lipid metabolism (see US application 2012258183).
According to this method, the greater the number of genetic variants that an individual was found to carry that increased the risk of metabolic disturbances in glucose metabolism, the greater the sensitivity to dietary carbohydrates. Similarly, the number of genetic variations associated with adverse lipid metabolism was considered to be proportional to dietary fat sensitivity.
Sensitivity to a macronutrient would indicate that its reduction in the diet may have conferred increased metabolic and health benefits. Further refinements to personalising diet included tests for genes associated with gluten sensitivity, lactose intolerance, salt palatability, appetite control, folate and Vitamin D metabolism.
| Accreditations |
|---|
| National Association of Testing Authorities: accredited for Genetic Testing and Molecular Genetics |
| Royal College of Pathologists of Australia: accredited for Genetic Testing |
Weightloss Complete® Genetic Test
In 2011 MyGene brought to market a nutrigenetic dietary program to optimise weight loss that was composed of a genetic test, a genetically allocated meal replacement formulation and 12-week dietary program (MyGene Weightloss Complete®[2][3]). Via a collaboration with The Pharmacy Guild of Australia (Australia's chief pharmacy body representing community pharmacies)[4] a selected number of participating pharmacies installed MyGene booths whereby customers had their DNA collected for processing and were counselled on the type of dietary regime they should follow to achieve their desired weight management goals. The program was also offered in a clinical setting for the treatment of obesity.[5]
Despite the support of the Pharmacy Guild the claims in MyGene's dietary program were met with scepticism particularly as supporting clinical research was found to be lacking [6][7][8] resulting in the program being cancelled by the beginning of 2012.
Voluntary Administration & Wind Up
On 11 September 2013, following irreconcilable differences between its major shareholders, MyGene was placed in voluntary administration and wound up.[9]
Disambiguation
MyGene Pty Ltd and its registered Australian trademarks (1118770, 1349573) were unrelated to the "My Gene Profile" test and company that marketed it.
See also
Other Nutrigenetic Testing Companies
Pathway Genomics Inherent Health FitGenes
References
- ^ "Monash University Biomedical Sciences Annual Report 2006" (PDF).
- ^ "Weightloss Complete® Genetic Test and Program" MyGene Weightloss Complete® Brochure
- ^ "GPs to offer genetic test".
- ^ "Guild endorses MyGene" Pharmacy Daily - Pharmacy Industry News
- ^ "Mygene Complete Weightloss Program".
- ^ "Pharmacies cop flak over genetic testing for weight loss".
- ^ "Want to try the latest fad diet? Just ask your local pharmacist".
- ^ "GPs offer genetic weight loss program".
- ^ "Notice of Deemed Special Resolution to Wind Up a Company".