Business

Co-founder departs Google-backed biotech 23andMe

Posted September 04, 2009 11:00 pm

Associated Press

SAN FRANCISCO -- The direct-to-consumer genetic testing startup backed by Google Inc. is losing its co-founder months after the search giant upped its investment.

Mountain View-based 23andMe Inc. announced Friday that co-founder Linda Avey is leaving to start an Alzheimer's research foundation.

Avey launched 23andMe in 2006 with Anne Wojcicki, wife of Google co-founder Sergey Brin. The company analyzes people's DNA to detect potential health problems before they occur.

Since then, Google has invested $7 million in the company, including $2.6 million in June. Brin himself has invested about $10 million of his personal fortune.

Wojcicki and Avey said that the new foundation would use anonymous DNA data collected from 23andMe's customers to seek Alzheimer's genetic roots.

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