Navigenics is a technology company.
Navigenics has raised $43.0M across 2 funding rounds.
Key people at Navigenics.
Navigenics has raised $43.0M in total across 2 funding rounds.
Navigenics has raised $43.0M in total across 2 funding rounds.
Navigenics's investors include Kleiner Perkins, Drive Capital.
Navigenics was a pioneering personal genomics company that developed genetic testing services to assess individuals' risks for common health conditions like Alzheimer’s disease, type 2 diabetes, certain cancers, and celiac disease.[1][2] It served consumers and physicians through direct-to-consumer tests and an online portal for integrating genomic data into personalized health plans, solving the problem of limited access to actionable genetic insights for preventive medicine.[1][2] The company launched services in 2008 but ceased independent operations after its acquisition in 2012, with no evidence of current activity as a standalone entity.[1][2]
Navigenics was co-founded in 2006 by David Agus, M.D., a prostate cancer specialist and professor at the University of Southern California directing the USC Center for Applied Molecular Medicine, and Dietrich Stephan, Ph.D., a human geneticist formerly at the Translational Genomics Research Institute.[1][2] The idea emerged from their expertise in molecular medicine and genomics, aiming to translate genetic research into practical health risk assessments amid rising interest in personalized medicine.[1][2] It officially launched in November 2007, began selling tests in April 2008, and gained early traction with its physician portal, though it faced regulatory hurdles in California that were resolved by August 2008.[1][2]
Navigenics stood out in the early personal genomics space through these key features:
Navigenics rode the early 2000s wave of personal genomics, fueled by falling sequencing costs and public fascination with DNA-driven health insights, as seen in media like NOVA scienceNOW and Charlie Rose discussions.[1][2] Its timing capitalized on post-Human Genome Project momentum, when companies like 23andMe were emerging, though California regulators in 2008 highlighted market forces around clinical validation and physician involvement—issues Navigenics resolved via licensing.[2] It influenced the ecosystem by validating consumer genomics viability, paving the way for acquisitions that integrated genomics into larger diagnostics platforms like Thermo Fisher, accelerating companion diagnostics and lab-developed tests.[5][6]
As an acquired entity folded into Thermo Fisher Scientific since 2014, Navigenics' legacy endures in modern genomics diagnostics rather than as an active company, with its tech enhancing lab services and partnerships.[1][2][5] Trends like AI-driven polygenic risk scores and expanded direct-to-consumer testing will shape its indirect influence, potentially amplifying Thermo Fisher's role in precision medicine. Its story underscores how early pioneers catalyzed a market now dominated by scaled players, tying back to its roots in making genomics accessible for health empowerment.
Key people at Navigenics.
Navigenics has raised $43.0M across 2 funding rounds. Most recently, it raised $18.0M Series C in February 2010.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 1, 2010 | $18.0M Series C | Kleiner Perkins | |
| Nov 1, 2007 | $25.0M Venture Round | Drive Capital, Kleiner Perkins |