Reliance To Roll Out Affordable Genome Sequencing Test Soon

The energy-to-e-commerce conglomerate will roll out within weeks a comprehensive ₹12,000 genome sequencing test, according to Ramesh Hariharan, chief executive officer of Strand Life Sciences Pvt, which has developed the product. Reliance Industries Ltd, led by Asia’s richest person, acquired the Bengaluru-based firm in 2021 and now owns about 80% of it. 

The genome test, which is about 86% cheaper than other offerings available locally, can reveal a person’s predisposition to cancers, cardiac and neuro-degenerative ailments as well as identify inherited genetic disorders, he said. 

The project to bring affordable personal gene-mapping to India’s 1.4 billion people—on track to be the world’s most populous nation—will potentially create a treasure trove of biological data that can aid drug development and disease prevention in the region.

It also dovetails with Ambani’s ambitions to dive further into the world of data—he has often called it the “new oil"—as he pivots his $192 billion empire beyond refining into consumer and digital services. “It’ll be the cheapest such genomic profile in the world," Hariharan said.

“We’re going out at an aggressive price point to drive adoption as it gives us a chance to build a viable business in preventive health care." 

While ancestry reports from 23andMe can be bought for $99, its health plus ancestry reports cost $199. Full genome sequencing for health red flags costs more than $1,000 from Indian rivals, MapmyGenome and Medgenome. Cheapest offerings from some Chinese firms come for as low as 599 yuan but may not map the entire gamut of diseases that Reliance-owned Strand aims to detect.

A representative for Reliance Industries did not respond to an emailed request for comments.

Price disruption comes naturally to Ambani, who deployed a similar cut-throat strategy after it entered retail in 2006 and telecommunications in 2016, blowing out competition until Reliance emerged the market leader in both sectors.