Revolutionising Healthcare: Lord’s Mark Microbiotech’s Vision For Genetic Testing

Genetic testing is revolutionising the healthcare landscape, offering personalised insights into disease prevention, management, and treatment. As the field progresses, saliva-based genetic testing has emerged as a game-changer, providing a non-invasive, cost-effective, and accurate alternative to traditional blood-based methods. Lord’s Mark Microbiotech, under its MyDNA brand, is at the forefront of this innovation, leveraging cutting-edge technologies like AI and the SNAPPY algorithm to enhance genetic analysis and empower individuals to make informed health decisions.

In an exclusive conversation with BW Healthcare World, Subodh Gupta, CEO of Lord’s Mark Microbiotech, shared his insights on the advantages of saliva-based genetic testing, the integration of AI in genomics, and the company’s strategies for expanding its reach in India, especially in underserved markets. He also highlighted the ethical considerations and regulatory challenges in the Indian market and discussed the transformative potential of preventive genomics in empowering individuals and enhancing healthcare delivery.

Here are the excerpts from the interview:

How does Lord's Mark Microbiotech's saliva-based technology compare to traditional blood-based genetic testing? What are the specific advantages in terms of patient convenience, accuracy, and cost-effectiveness?

Lord's Mark Microbiotech's saliva-based genetic testing, under the MyDNA brand, offers several advantages over traditional blood-based tests.

• Patient Convenience: Saliva collection is non-invasive and can be done at home, eliminating the need for blood draws or visits to a clinic. The process is simple, and patients follow easy instructions to collect their sample. This reduces discomfort and the need for trained phlebotomists, making the test more accessible and less time-consuming.

• Accuracy: MyDNA's saliva-based testing provides a high accuracy rate of 99.6 per cent in genome testing.

• Cost-Effectiveness: The testing kits are priced between Rs 8,000 to Rs 16,000, making them competitive and more affordable compared to blood-based testing, reducing overall costs by eliminating the need for clinical visits.

Can you elaborate on the role of AI and data science in analyzing the vast amount of genomic data generated by MyDNA? How does the SNAPPY algorithm enhance the accuracy and predictive power of genetic risk assessments?

AI and data science are crucial for analysing the vast genomic data generated by services like MyDNA, where each human genome contains over 3 billion base pairs. Variations, such as single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), contribute to individual traits, disease risks, and responses to medications. Here's how AI and data science aid genomic analysis:

• Data Processing and Integration: Genomic data is often large and unstructured. AI, particularly machine learning, processes, cleans, and integrates genomic data with clinical and biological data, making it easier to identify patterns in genetic sequences.

• Pattern Recognition: Machine learning algorithms detect complex patterns in genetic data linked to health conditions, lifestyle, and drug responses. AI identifies which SNPs or genetic variations are most relevant to specific traits or diseases.

• Predictive Modelling: AI models predict the likelihood of diseases based on an individual’s genetic makeup, integrating environmental, medical, and lifestyle data for more accurate risk assessments.

• Personalised Recommendations: AI provides personalised health recommendations such as diet, exercise, and medication dosages tailored to an individual’s genetic profile.

The SNAPPY (Statistical, Neural, and Adaptive Polygenic Prediction Yield) algorithm further enhances genetic analysis by calculating polygenic risk scores (PRS), which consider multiple SNPs simultaneously. Unlike traditional methods, SNAPPY uses machine learning to capture complex, non-linear relationships between SNPs and disease risk. It continually adapts as new data becomes available, improving its predictive power over time. SNAPPY also employs rigorous cross-validation to ensure robustness across populations and can scale with growing genomic data.

Together, AI and SNAPPY enable MyDNA to offer precise genetic risk assessments, advancing personalised medicine and improving healthcare decisions.

What are the future plans for Lord's Mark Microbiotech in terms of expanding the range of genetic tests offered and integrating advanced technologies like CRISPR-Cas9?

Expansion of Genetic Testing Portfolio: Introducing specialised genetic tests for critical conditions like cancer, cardiovascular diseases, rare genetic disorders, and pharmacogenomics, to analyze drug responses based on genetic makeup.

CRISPR-Cas9 Integration: Exploring the application of CRISPR-Cas9 technology for gene editing, diagnostics, and potential therapeutic solutions, with possible collaborations with research institutions or biotech firms.

Personalised Medicine: Developing platforms to leverage genomic data for tailored healthcare, optimising treatment plans by analysing genetic variants that affect drug responses.

AI and Bioinformatics: Utilizing AI, machine learning, and bioinformatics to process large genetic datasets, enabling precise diagnostics, predictive analytics, and identification of biomarkers for improved patient care.

Strategic Collaborations: Engaging with universities, research institutions, and global biotech firms to advance genetic research, CRISPR technologies, and cutting-edge diagnostic solutions.

How do you plan to penetrate the Indian market, especially in tier-2 and tier-3 cities, where awareness about genetic testing is still limited? What strategies will you employ to educate consumers about the benefits of preventive genomics?

Lord's Mark Microbiotech’s business model is centred on affordability, innovation, and strategic partnerships to drive sustainable growth.

Pricing Strategies: The company focuses on providing cost-effective genetic testing solutions, with products priced lower than competitors to ensure accessibility. A tiered pricing model adjusts costs based on region and demand, making services affordable in both urban and rural markets.

Partnerships: Collaborations with hospitals, diagnostic labs, and healthcare providers ensure steady demand while enabling the delivery of affordable solutions to patients. Partnerships with research institutions keep the company at the forefront of genetic testing technology.

Revenue Streams: The primary revenue comes from selling preventive genetic testing kits to hospitals, labs, and private healthcare providers. Additionally, clinical testing services contribute to the revenue.

Sustainability: Lord’s Mark achieves sustainability through economies of scale, optimising testing infrastructure to lower costs. Continuous investment in R&D drives product innovation and cost efficiency. The company also integrates sustainable practices in logistics and materials.

Affordability: The company’s value-based pricing model ensures accessibility for patients in low-resource settings, maintaining affordability while covering operational costs. This approach balances profitability with social responsibility, ensuring long-term success.

What are the regulatory challenges in the Indian market for genetic testing, and how is Lord's Mark Microbiotech navigating this complex landscape?

The regulatory landscape for genetic testing in India presents several challenges, stemming from a lack of comprehensive guidelines, ethical concerns, privacy issues, and the complexities of ensuring quality and safety. Here’s an overview of the key challenges. Navigating India's regulatory landscape for genetic testing involves a delicate balance between staying compliant with existing laws, anticipating future regulations, and addressing ethical concerns. Lord's Mark Microbiotech manages this complexity through global partnerships, strict adherence to international standards, robust data security, and consumer education, positioning itself to grow within the evolving Indian market.

How can genetic testing empower individuals to take proactive steps towards disease prevention and management? Can you share specific examples of how MyDNA has positively impacted patients' lives?

Personalized Health Plans: Genetic testing reveals how genes affect responses to medications, diet, and lifestyle. For example, someone with a genetic predisposition to heart disease can adopt early interventions like increased exercise or specific dietary adjustments.

Targeted Disease Prevention: MyDNA helps identify genetic mutations for diseases like breast cancer (e.g., BRCA1/BRCA2), enabling preventive actions like enhanced screening or prophylactic surgeries. It also detects conditions like familial hypercholesterolemia, guiding early intervention with medications like statins.

Pharmacogenomics: Genetic testing helps optimise medication choices by revealing how individuals metabolise drugs. For instance, patients can avoid adverse reactions by choosing the right antidepressants or pain medications from the start.

Real-Life Impact:

• Medication Management: Faster treatment for depression with the right antidepressant, based on genetic insights.

• Weight Management: Personalized diet plans leading to sustainable weight loss.

• Mental Health: Adjusting medications to avoid side effects like fatigue or irritability.

How do you envision the integration of genetic testing into the broader healthcare ecosystem in India? What partnerships are you exploring with healthcare providers, insurance companies, and policymakers to promote the adoption of preventive genomics?

Integrating genetic testing into India’s healthcare system can revolutionise preventive care. Key strategies include:

Genomic Testing as Prevention: Early detection of diseases like cancer, cardiovascular conditions, and diabetes can enable proactive interventions and personalised healthcare plans.

Integration with Primary Care: Genetic screening should be part of regular check-ups, with general practitioners trained to interpret results and guide personalized treatments.

Partnerships with Healthcare Providers: Collaborations with hospitals and diagnostic labs, along with AI integration, can optimise genomic data analysis for better patient care.

Insurance Coverage: Working with insurers to include genetic testing in preventive packages will make it affordable and incentivise early detection.

Policy and Public Engagement: Engaging policymakers to create clear guidelines for genomic data and promoting preventive health policies will encourage adoption. Public awareness campaigns can further drive acceptance

What measures are in place to ensure the ethical use of genetic data and to protect patient privacy? How do you balance the potential benefits of genetic testing with the ethical implications?

The ethical use of genetic data and the protection of patient privacy are fundamental concerns in the field of genomics, especially as genetic testing becomes more widespread. Several measures are in place to ensure these issues are addressed. The ethical use of genetic data requires a careful balance between advancing medical knowledge and technology, protecting individual rights, and respecting privacy. This is done through strict informed consent processes, ethical oversight, legal protections against discrimination, and efforts to maintain data security.

Arya Rakshita

BW Reporters Trainee Correspondent