For a couple of drops of saliva and a few hundred dollars, US-based genomics business 23andMe will extract your DNA and screen it for genetic disease markers. Since launching in 2007, the company has processed 150,000 paying customers' DNA.

Pharmacies don't always offer great retail experiences. PillPack wants to solve this with a subscription-based online pharmacy and new method of delivery. But are people ready to ditch a fail-safe but frustrating routine for a more expensive but simpler alternative?

With 100,000 health apps on the market, people are increasingly tracking their vitals on their smartphones – signalling new opportunities for health brands. A partnership between America’s largest pharmacy chain Walgreens and health service WebMD capitalises on this behaviour.

Many smokers trying to quit find that nicotine patches and gum don't hit the spot. Enter QuitBit, a 'smart lighter' that tracks how many cigarettes you smoke and how long it's been since your last one. It connects to an app, allowing you to set limits on how often it lights up.