Genetics-testing startup 23andMe said Tuesday it is teaming up with pharmaceutical giant Pfizer to study the genetics of inflammatory bowel disease, or the chronic inflammation of the digestive tract.
The study aims to genotype 10,000 volunteers from the United States diagnosed with Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis, two types of inflammatory bowel disease. While the participants cannot be 23andMe customers, they will submit samples through 23andMe’s at-home saliva collection kit and fill out online surveys through 23andMe’s website.
The end goal is to develop new or improved treatments, the companies said. Pfizer already has in the pipeline two monoclonal antibodies for inflammatory bowel disease, and is also working on other treatments for chronic inflammatory diseases.
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“Pfizer is committed to bringing forward new treatments for patients suffering with (inflammatory bowel disease),” said Jose Carlos Gutierrez-Ramos, senior vice president and head of biotherapeutics, research and development at Pfizer, in a statement. “By enhancing our understanding of the underlying biology of the disease, we hope to better support our clinical research activities and development programs.”
Read the full, original story: 23andMe teams with Pfizer to study inflammatory bowel disease
