How DNA &microbiome testing could help you leada healthy life

Bione is a direct-to-consumer microbiome and genetic testing organisation providing personalised microbiome and genetic testing services. Founded by Dr Surendra K Chikara in 2019, the company provides insights into one's genetic makeup. Such personalised genomic data leads to important recommendations in terms of food and nutrition intake, healthy lifestyle practices and many more that prevents life threatening diseases.

Similarly, company's microbiome test comes up with personalised reports and recommendations based on the bacteria in a person's stomach. This can help in losing weight, reverse obesity and prevent diseases. In a conversation with the Bizz Buzz, Dr Surendra K Chikara, Founder & CEO, Bione, said that the company is looking at raising funds in order to expand its services apart from investing more into R&D. He also said that it is raising awareness among general public on the importance of these testing for preventing diseases.

Can you throw some light on the health solutions that Bione is providing to individuals?

Human system is made up two components. One is called the DNA component of human cells and the second is the microbiome content. Any test without testing the microbiome is an incomplete test. Because, one has to see human system as an integrated system. So, only doing DNA testing or microbiome will not give the solution. We are trying to bring awareness among people that both are mandatory and essential. We say mandatory because both DNA and microbiome are unique for a person. If you are taking up certain things which you are not supposed to take, then you are accumulating life style problems- whether it is diabetes, or Alzheimer or cancer, and all such diseases.

Bione currently recommends two tests- Bione DNA test and Bione Microbiome test for individuals. How is the overall response from consumers to these healthcare products?

The response is very exciting as customers are realising the importance of these tests. We are educating increasing number of people, which is growing 2-3X every month on our products and the health benefit it offers.

How are you leveraging technology to make the process seamless and draw insights?

Both these tests are conducted inhouse. We have developed an artificial intelligence (AI)-powered solution which takes into account a person's current conditions, microbiome and DNA. It basically analyses what is going wrong. There are many companies working on DNA testing taking into account a few markers and a few genes. But we are working with polymarkers and polygenes to get a better outcome in terms of findings and provide AI-driven recommendations.

We have seen instances of AI going wrong in terms of recommendations. What are your views into this aspect?

I want to point out that our algorithm is not based on questionnaire. Usually, it asks a set of questions on a person's likes and dislikes. What they derive out of these answers is only 50-60 per cent correct. But our algorithm derives on actual tests that we are doing. Taking into account both DNA and microbiome tests, our recommendations are driven. That is the difference. Genetics are more accurate (than the questions).

As more users take up the DNA tests, we also accumulate a lot of data, which can help you to build up a gene bank. What are your thoughts on this issue?

Gene bank is automatically created as we keep testing more people. We are curating 55-60 million data points. It is a big number. Out of these data, we are focusing on life style issues, wellness, nutrition which are converted into around 100 reportable parameters. These reports are run through genomic counsellors who are experts in this field. They explain in simple term to people who have taken the tests that how they have to lead their lives (in terms of food, nutrition, exercise and many more). Once the report comes out, if that report doesn't translate into change of habits, there is no value in that report. We, therefore, provide the report with recommendations of activities that a person has to do for addressing the issues.

Wellness and preventive care have emerged as the biggest growth areas during this pandemic. Do you have tie-ups with such wellness providers?

Yes, we are following up that approach. We are partnering with wellness centres, diet & nutrition centres, individual nutritionists. We are in talks with insurance providers who provide wellness services as package. We have already tied up with payment companies wherein customers can buy now and pay later. EMI options are also available for customers.

Have you raised funds so far or remained bootstrapped? What are your fund raising plans going ahead?

We have raised some funds as part of a seed round so far. We are planning to raise pre-series A round in the coming days. We are already driving awareness campaign for educating people. So, these marketing efforts will be enhanced. We will also scale up operationally. We will at least double our workforce. We will also invest more into R&D. We are also planning to come up with personalised supplements.

Are you currently focussed on India alone? Do you have plans to enter into overseas market in the near future?

We are focussed on India market but we have plans to enter into other geographies also. Once we raise funds, we will look at entering into overseas market.

As a healthtech company focused on DNA & biome testing, the data generated can be very useful for pharmaceutical research. Are you in talks with any pharma companies in sharing some of these data for research purposes with consent from users?

This is path number two for us. We are already talking to the pharma research companies to enter into microbiome research. Regarding the data, it is very important. Usually, in a research programme, de-identified data is used based on patients' consent. So, there is no identity attached to the data. We have seen a lot of interest in microbiome-based research in recent years as it has the potential of changing a man's life by taking up many healthy habits.