Overview
A bankruptcy judge has given the green light for the sale of 23andMe to the nonprofit TTAM Research Institute, which is owned by cofounder and former CEO Anne Wojcicki. This decision ensures that the DNA data of the company’s customers will not be sold to third parties.
Details of the Sale
- Purchase Price: TTAM will acquire nearly all of 23andMe’s assets for $305 million.
- Judge’s Approval: The sale was approved by Judge Brian Walsh of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in the Eastern District of Missouri.
Background
In March, 23andMe filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy to facilitate the sales process. During this time:
- Anne Wojcicki resigned as CEO.
- Joe Selsavage was appointed as interim CEO.
- Regeneron Pharmaceuticals initially won an auction to acquire the company for $256 million.
Legal Challenges
A coalition of 27 states and the District of Columbia filed a lawsuit to prevent 23andMe from selling customer genetic data without explicit consent. The lawsuit emphasized that genetic data is sensitive and should not be commodified.
While some states, including Oregon, support the sale as a privacy measure, others, such as California and Texas, remain opposed. These states have until midnight on July 7 to appeal the decision.
Consumer Concerns
Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday supports the sale, claiming it will protect consumer data. However, California Attorney General Rob Bonta has raised concerns that the sale does not comply with the state’s Genetic Information Privacy Act, which mandates opt-in consent for selling genetic information.
Data Breach Incident
In 2023, 23andMe experienced a significant data breach affecting approximately seven million users, exposing sensitive information, including ancestry and health-related data. This breach led to a class-action lawsuit and a proposed settlement of $30 million.