Democratising Genetic Testing For All: Everything Genetic

“We are a distributer of tests through partners with a range of analyzing platforms.”

Everything Genetic is a leading distributor of market-leading genetic test brands. Serving the UK market, the company specialises in breast cancer and colorectal cancer genetic testing, as well as other urological cancers, and heart conditions. By engaging with world-leading laboratories, Everything Genetic now serves a portfolio of genetic testing brands across the patient pathway from hereditary testing, diagnostics, and prognostics, through to theragnostic genetic testing.

To highlight and further understand what Everything Genetic Ltd stands for and seeks to explore in this segment, I sat down with James Price (founder), who serves as the company’s Chief Executive Officer.

Below is an excerpt.

Q. Tell us what inspired the creation of Everything Genetics.

The vision was to democratise genetic testing for all by being disruptive in the market, expanding the range of testing options available, and, more importantly, making genetic testing affordable.

Q. What types of genetic testing are provided at Everything Genetics?

Everything Genetic is a consultative distributor of market-leading genetic testing brands to both healthcare providers and directly to patients. We have established partnerships with market-leading laboratories; supplying revolutionary genetic tests to healthcare providers and patients for the detection, diagnosis, and treatment planning of cancer, heart disease, and other illnesses.

Q. Tell us about Everything Genetics’ Genotyping and DNA analyzing platform.

We are a distributer of tests through partners with a range of analyzing platforms.

Q. How well is an individual’s personal genetic information and personal details protected at Everything Genetics?

Everything Genetic conforms with internationally recognised protocols and legislation around data protection.

Personal data protection principles

• We adhere to the principles relating to the processing of personal data set out in the UK GDPR which require personal data to be:
• Processed lawfully, fairly, and in a transparent manner (lawfulness, fairness, and transparency);
• Collected only for specified, explicit, and legitimate purposes (purpose limitation);
• Adequate, relevant, and limited to what is necessary in relation to the purposes for which it is processed (data minimisation);
• Accurate and where necessary kept up to date (accuracy);
• Not kept in a form which permits identification of data subjects for longer than is necessary for the purposes for which the data is processed (storage limitation);
• Processed in a manner that ensures its security using appropriate technical and organisational measures to protect against unauthorised or unlawful processing and against accidental loss, destruction or damage (security, integrity, and confidentiality);
• Not transferred to another country without appropriate safeguards being in place (transfer limitation); and
• Made available to data subjects and allow data subjects to exercise certain rights in relation to their personal data (data subject’s rights and requests).

Q. What are some of the biggest hurdles you have faced as a Genetic testing company? How did you overcome them?

The biggest hurdle with new technology is getting the knowledge out there and following all protocols for these to be used in the medical arena. We have overcome these by maintaining strong relationships with experts in the field and partnerships with oncologists and clinicians alike have helped us to build our business.

Q. How does Genetic testing contribute to the battle against Covid-19?

The same as most companies. Through the pandemic, EGL adopted the UK government furlough arrangement at the onset of lockdown in 2020, as cancer services were drastically affected and more or less stopped. EGL then developed a COVID-19 testing programme. It was initially developed to assist Oncologists in testing patients pre chemotherapy treatment, allowing them to receive urgent treatment safely during the pandemic. 

Our corporate offering to over 200 companies now expands to many sectors including healthcare, travel and banking sectors. Finally, in April 2021, a direct-to-consumer service was launched to support the tourism sector.

Q. Most people associate DNA testing with ancestry mapping and genetic diagnosing. What else can DNA testing contribute to?

DNA analysis can give an individual customer more accurate information about their personal risk of developing a cancer in their lifetime.

Q. What sets Everything Genetics apart from the competition?

We’re innovators of new technology, with top geneticists and cancer specialists in our medical team, offering a comprehensive clinical support to patients. We are constantly reviewing new technology, what is the next great thing to make diagnosis easier and quicker for patients.

Q. Will Everything Genetics be expanding, bringing on any new products/services that we should be aware of?

Everything Genetic has expanded 10 fold through the last 12 months mainly to support our COVID-19 testing arm. We are constantly reviewing new technology and working with innovators, investing in digitising testing for COVID-19 testing, and beyond so watch this space.

Q. Is there anything else you want us to highlight that we might have missed?

We believe in empowering individuals to take control of their own health by understanding their predetermined risk for conditions such as cancer and heart disease. We aim to greatly assist those who may need to access further care much earlier. Currently, many individuals cannot gain access to this information within the NHS; genetic testing only being offered to individuals with a strong family history, often with long lead times for appointments. Our ultimate ambition is to collaborate with national screening programmes for hereditary cancers.

James Price | Founder & CEO

James Price is a talented commercial leader with a strong commercial skillset and a track record of working in the molecular diagnostics and genetic testing space, having achieved success in the women’s health sector and other markets within molecular testing.

He built the UK and Ireland genetic testing business Myriad Genetics, launching the BRAcanalysis and Endopredict tests into the market.

From KOL engagement, strategic planning through to product launch, he built the commercial structure of the national business from scratch, following other successful sales roles for companies such as QIAGEN, Hamilton, Gen-Probe, Hologic, and Abcodia.

James established Everything Genetic Ltd to fill the niche in the market for quality consultants in the space of genetic testing, combined with a distributor-like model.

“We’re innovators of new technology, with top geneticists and cancer specialists in our medical team, offering a comprehensive clinical support to patients. We are constantly reviewing new technology, what is the next great thing to make diagnosis easier and quicker for patients.”