Orig3n Hires Former Ancestry and Spotify Executive Bahigh Acuna to Lead Their Consumer DNA Business

BOSTON, Oct. 9, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Orig3n, a Boston-based biotech company pioneering the future of health through genetics and regenerative medicine, today announced that Bahigh Acuna is joining the company as general manager of Orig3n's direct-to-consumer DNA testing business. Acuna is a business strategy leader who brings significant experience scaling corporate businesses and start-ups globally.

"I'm thrilled to be joining Orig3n as it's a mission driven company that empowers people on their journey to have a healthier, happier life," said Acuna. "The consumer genomics market is growing rapidly around the world, and I look forward to helping Orig3n put personalized genetic information into the hands of people across the globe to enable them on taking steps every day to have a better lifestyle."

In his new role at Orig3n, Acuna will focus on guiding the company's DNA testing business in its continued international expansion. Recently Orig3n closed a round of Series B funding with lead investor Haitong International, an international financial institution headquartered in Hong Kong, and announced a joint venture with ZhongAn, the largest online-only insurance company in China, which had its IPO on the Hong Kong stock exchange in the second half of last year and has a customer base of nearly 500 million users, to bring lifestyle genetic solutions to Chinese consumers. In the United States, Orig3n's DNA kits are widely available at select CVS Pharmacies and www.orig3n.com.

"Bahigh's depth of experience in global business growth will be essential as Orig3n builds the consumer genomics industry," said Robin Y. Smith, CEO of Orig3n. "This is an exciting time for our industry and our company as we are now collaborating with institutions like Harvard University, and the San Francisco 49ers, and we look forward to the new possibilities ahead as a result of Bahigh joining our team."

Acuna brings a decade of global leadership experience in high-growth technology and science-based business, where he has led business development and international expansion for companies like Spotify and Ancestry, playing a key role in introducing and scaling new categories like music streaming and consumer genetics products in multiple new markets. Acuna will be a speaker at Interbrand's Best Global Brands 2018 summit at The New York Stock Exchange this Tuesday, October 9 where he will talk about Orig3n's role in the future of the consumer genetics space.

About Orig3n Inc.
Orig3n exists at the intersection of biological science and emerging technology on a mission to create a better tomorrow for the future of medicine. As part of the mission to democratize health Orig3n empowers people by providing consumers direct, affordable access to information about their genes to help them make educated, proactive and personalized choices that may impact their well-being. That business enables Orig3n to invest in breakthrough cell therapy R&D by utilizing cutting-edge cellular science to develop personalized therapies for repairing tissue damage and disease. For more information, visit www.orig3n.com/our-mission/.

SOURCE Orig3n Inc.

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