Genetic information company 23andMe's data assets have been acquired by Regeneron Pharmaceuticals in a bankruptcy auction.
In a surprising turn of events, genetic testing company 23andMe has been purchased by Anne Wojcicki's nonprofit organisation, TTAM Research Institute, for $305 million. This transaction, which took place in July 2025, came after Regeneron Pharmaceuticals initially placed the highest bid during 23andMe's bankruptcy auction.
The sale ensures that 23andMe and its services will continue to operate, with TTAM Research Institute taking control. The purchase includes 23andMe’s core Personal Genome Service, research operations, and the Lemonaid Health telehealth subsidiary.
The initial acquisition by Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, announced in May 2025, was agreed upon during 23andMe's bankruptcy proceedings. However, in a subsequent bidding war, Wojcicki's nonprofit outbid Regeneron with a higher offer that was approved by the bankruptcy court.
Reputation Damage and Data Breach
The sale comes after a series of high-profile failures and a significant data breach that caused significant damage to 23andMe's reputation. In 2023, a data breach affected about 14,000 people, but the real figure was later found to be closer to 6.9 million. People who opted into the DNA Relatives feature had their Family Tree profiles accessed during the breach.
The data breach exposed the names, birth years, relationship labels, family names, and locations of affected individuals. This event was problematic given the company's reliance on people trusting it with their most personal data.
Continuity of Services and Data Privacy
Regeneron will continue to operate 23andMe's consumer-facing genome services without interruption. Despite concerns raised by California and other states about potential genetic privacy law violations due to the transfer of DNA data during the sale, U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Brian Walsh rejected these challenges.
According to court rulings and organizational commitments, customer data privacy protections remain enforced under the new ownership. TTAM Research Institute has committed to upholding privacy policies, and users have the right to data deletion.
Mission-Driven Approach
The sale positions 23andMe toward a mission-driven approach emphasizing public benefit and genomic research. This change aligns with Wojcicki’s vision for the company, which focuses on using genetic data for the greater good.
In summary, the sale of 23andMe to TTAM Research Institute ensures the continuity of the company's services and research, with a renewed focus on data privacy and public benefit. The transaction comes after a series of challenges for 23andMe, including a significant data breach and a failed attempt to launch a subscription service.
The sale of 23andMe to TTAM Research Institute signifies a shift in focus, as the company transitions towards a mission-driven approach that prioritizes public benefit and genomic research. This change aligns with the vision of Anne Wojcicki, the founder of TTAM, who aims to use genetic data for the greater good.
The transaction comes in the wake of a series of setbacks for 23andMe, including a high-profile data breach in 2023 that affected approximately 6.9 million individuals, and the failure to launch a successful subscription service.
The sale was necessary to ensure the continuity of 23andMe's operations and services, despite concerns raised by regulatory bodies about potential violations of genetic privacy laws due to the transfer of DNA data. U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Brian Walsh assured that customer data privacy protections will remain enforced under the new ownership.
Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, who initially placed the highest bid during 23andMe's bankruptcy auction, will continue to operate 23andMe's consumer-facing genome services without interruption. The purchase includes 23andMe’s core Personal Genome Service, research operations, and the Lemonaid Health telehealth subsidiary.
In the realm of health and wellness, science, technology, finance, and business, this sale marks a significant event, showcasing a transformation in the approach of a major technology company. The future of 23andMe lies in its renewed commitment to data privacy, public benefit, and research, shaping the course of medical-conditions and health-related technology advancements.
