By Julie Steenhuysen
(Reuters) - A company formed by genome pioneer Craig Venter will offer clients of a South Africa-based insurance company whole exome sequencing - sequencing all protein-making genes in the human genome - at a price that marks yet another dramatic decline in the cost of gene sequencing, the two companies said on Tuesday.
Venter's company, Human Longevity Inc, will provide the tests at a cost of $250 each through a special incentive program offered by Discovery Ltd, an insurer with clients in South Africa and the United Kingdom.
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Venter, the U.S. scientist who raced the U.S. government to map the human genome 15 years ago for a cost of $100,000, said the $250 price point per whole exome marks a new low in the price of gene sequencing.
"It's our goal to really make this (sequencing) available to broad populations," he said in a telephone interview.
The multiyear deal gives Discovery's clients access to low-cost whole exome sequencing, tests that look only at the protein-making segments of DNA known as exons, which represent 2% of the genome but account for 85% of disease-causing mutations.
The deal also covers testing for whole genome and cancer genome sequencing services. Financial terms were not disclosed.
Until recently, whole genome sequencing - which maps all of an individual's 20,500 genes - was prohibitively expensive, costing about $20,000 just five years ago. As of last year, the average cost of whole genome sequencing fell to $1,500.
Whole exome sequencing costs range from $400 to $1,500, plus extra charges for analyzing the results.
For insurance company Discovery, exome sequencing will be offered through a behavioral wellness program that provides clients with tools and incentives to make lifestyle changes to help them stay healthy.
Discovery clients who choose exome screening will receive a comprehensive report detailing their risks for specific diseases and potential strategies to modify those risks. Discovery will provide the reports to clients through a network of physicians and genetic counselors.
Venter's company, which is based in San Diego, will receive de-identified data from participating Discovery clients, which it will use to build its library of genetic and health information. Such data is becoming highly prized by pharmaceutical companies as a faster means of drug research.
Last January, Human Longevity signed a multiyear deal to sequence and analyze tens of thousands of genomes for Roche Holding's Genentech unit in an effort aimed at identifying new drug targets and biomarkers.