Navigenics

About Navigenics

Navigenics was a personal genomics company established in 2006, operating from Foster City, California. The firm was co-founded by Dr. David Agus, a prostate cancer specialist and professor at the University of Southern California, and Dr. Dietrich Stephan, a human geneticist with a background in neurogenomics and discovery research at the Translational Genomics Research Institute. Their collective expertise in medicine, genetics, and biotechnology shaped the company's mission to leverage genomic information for preventative healthcare.

The company's core business involved providing direct-to-consumer genetic testing services to assess individual risk for a range of health conditions. Its primary product, the Navigenics Health Compass, analyzed a person's DNA from a saliva sample to provide a personalized genetic assessment for up to 18 common conditions. This service included access to certified genetic counselors to help customers and their physicians interpret the results and create personalized wellness plans. Navigenics distributed its services through multiple channels, including directly to consumers online, via physician networks and medical centers, and through corporate wellness programs with large employers.

A significant milestone for Navigenics was the acquisition of the Affymetrix Clinical Services Laboratory in 2009, a CLIA-certified facility, which allowed the company to integrate genome scanning and analysis capabilities in-house. The company faced regulatory challenges in 2008 when California health regulators issued a cease-and-desist letter, questioning the necessity of physician involvement in test ordering. Navigenics, along with 23andMe, subsequently obtained the required state licenses to continue operations.

The company's journey as an independent entity concluded in July 2012 when it was acquired by Life Technologies. This acquisition was a strategic move for Life Technologies to expand its capabilities in the molecular diagnostics market, incorporating Navigenics' informatics platform, CLIA-certified lab, and expertise in communicating complex genomic information. Following the acquisition, the Navigenics Health Compass service honored existing commitments but ceased taking new business. Life Technologies itself was later acquired by Thermo Fisher Scientific in 2014.