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Re:GlaxoSmithKline makes $300M investment in 23andMe, forms ... by DanBC on Wednesday July 25, 2018 @01:46PM (#17611214)
Because over-testing, over-diagnosis, and over-treatment are all associated with harm.

People bang on about early intervention, and it's useful for some stuff, but for a lot of stuff there's no evidence of a reduction in all cause mortality.

Re:GlaxoSmithKline makes $300M investment in 23andMe, forms ... by rpedela on Wednesday July 25, 2018 @06:36PM (#17613553)
Given current diagnostic technologies, correct. I think genetic data and other types of bio data can be used to invent significantly better diagnostic tools that would reduce or eliminate the problems you talk about.

For example, we currently do not have a diagnostic test that can tell the difference between a virus or bacteria so physicians prescribe antibiotics just in case. If we did then we could reduce the use of antibiotics. Genomic sequencing won't help this case specifically, but sequencing at the proteomic or metabolic level may.

Re:GlaxoSmithKline makes $300M investment in 23andMe, forms ... by jgust on Wednesday July 25, 2018 @02:52PM (#17611780)
Not to mention that the majority of modern pharmaceuticals are focused on treating symptoms instead of causes. Insert argument about sick people being more profitable, etc.