The story
Founded by Mark Skolnick in 1992, in Salt Lake City.1
The global search for the genetic basis of breast cancer began when Mary-Claire King, Ph.D., from the University of California, Berkeley announced the localization through linkage analysis of a gene associated with increased risk for breast cancer (BRCA1) to the long arm of chromosome 17.
To further locate the actual gene, Dr. Skolnick and his colleagues invented a gene mapping technique known as Restriction Fragment-length Polymorphisms (RFLP). Gilbert joined Kimberlin in 1991, and they teamed up with Skolnick to form Myriad Genetics.
In August 1994, Mark Skolnick and researchers at Myriad, along with colleagues at the University of Utah, the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH), and McGill University sequenced BRCA1. They attempted to patent this gene, which resulted in significant controversy and a landmark Supreme Court Case.
The firm then established the first clinical laboratory to commercialize genomic testing. Myriad created the first test to measure the molecular biology and aggressiveness of men’s prostate cancer, devised a method to assess the inherited breast cancer risk of any woman not previously diagnosed with breast cancer, regardless of ancestry, important for addressing racial and ethnic disparities, commercialized a psychotropic test that covers 61 medications commonly prescribed for depression, anxiety, ADHD. Also pioneering the field of DNA-specific medicine, Myriad received the first FDA approval for a lab-developed diagnostic test for use in predicting the responses to a DNA-repair drug.
Acquisitions and subsidiaries
In August 2016, Myriad announced it would acquire Assurex Health for up to $410 million, expanding the company's genetic testing for psychotropic medicine selection.
In July 2018, Myriad completed an acquisition of reproductive genetic testing firm Counsyl for $375 million, expanding the company's testing capabilities to carrier and prenatal screening.
Other subsidiaries of Myriad Genetics include Myriad International and Myriad Autoimmune (aka Crescendo Bioscience).
Founders
The founders of Myriad are Peter Meldrum (past President and CEO of Agridyne and past CEO and President of Myriad Genetics, Inc.) and Mark Skolnick (Adjunct Professor in the Department of Medical Informatics at the University of Utah).
From Wikipedia’s article on Myriad Genetics, shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.7