Home DNA testing gains popularity in ageing Japan

DNA testing at home in Japan is starting to gain traction as more people age and seek answers about their risks for diseases.

The market for consumer genetic tests is poised to reach 6.6 billion yen (US$58 million) in sales by 2022, up from 4.3 billion yen last year, according to Fuji Chimera Research Institute. The sector is dominated by two local companies, Genesis Healthcare Co. and Genequest Inc. For 5,000 yen to 30,000 yen, customers can send off a cheek swab to find out their propensities for alcohol intolerance and allergies, to risks of diabetes and strokes.

Japan is rapidly ageing, with a third of the population projected to be 65 or older by 2035. While more people are aware of health risks that can be detected through early DNA testing, Japan’s self-testing market is dwarfed by the US, where people spent $73 million on genetic exams last year, according to Kalorama Information. The two Japanese start-ups are betting that testing kits, as well as online services using compiled genetic data, will find greater demand as people become more confident in the technology.

“I see a lot of potential in the business,” said Genequest founder Shoko Takahashi.

Genesis, the No. 1 testing firm with 70 per cent of the domestic market, has compiled data for more than 600,000 users, and is aiming to reach 1 million this year. It also operates as GeneLife in Japan. Rakuten Inc. invested 1.4 billion yen in the Tokyo-based start-up last August, with Chief Executive Officer Hiroshi Mikitani joining its board.

China’s ageing society problem worsens as birth and marriage rates fall

So far in Japan, there aren’t any legal restrictions to consumer genetics tests. The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry has, however, cited the quality of tests as an area of concern. In 2013, the US Food and Drug Administration told US DNA-testing company 23andMe to stop selling their kits because the company failed to back its marketing claims. The FDA lifted the ban in 2017.

Food companies are also interested in the sector as a way to offer tailored meals and nutrition products. Nestle Japan Co. teamed up with Genesis in May to introduce a new app service that offers nutritional advice based on genetic testing.

Last year, Genequest was bought out by Euglena Co., a health drink and supplement company. Together, the companies are now selling DNA tests for alcohol tolerance.

Market growth will depend on how accurate home kits get, said Fumiyoshi Sakai, an analyst at Credit Suisse Securities. “It is about technological innovation,” he said.

Although home-testing kits aren’t as accurate as more thorough clinical tests, they are useful for identifying enough genetic factors for people to change their lifestyle, according to Genequest’s Takahashi. There’s still room for improvement, and growth, she said.

“No one in the world has found a winning pattern in this business yet,” Takahashi said. “It is going to take time and money” for the sector to grow, she said.