Genetics & heredity

Court Approves 23andMe Sale to Ex-CEO's Nonprofit

Published JUL 2 2025

Story

Above: 23andMe founder Anne Wojcicki appears before the U.S. Congress on June 10, 2025. Image credit: Andrew Harnik/Getty Images

The Facts

A bankruptcy court this week approved the $305 million sale of genetics testing firm 23andMe to TTAM Research Institute, a nonprofit organization led by 23andMe's co-founder and former CEO Anne Wojcicki, replacing a previous $256 million bid from Regeneron Pharmaceuticals announced in May.
NPR Online News
Investors
This sale involves the genetic data of over 15 million customers and includes 23andMe's Personal Genome Service, Research Service, and Lemonaid Health business. The transaction is expected to close after approval from a U.S. bankruptcy judge.
USA Today
WSOC TV
Twenty-seven states and Washington, D.C. in June filed a lawsuit to block the sale of customers' genetic information without their consent. Though many states resolved their concerns, California, Kentucky, Tennessee, Texas, and Utah remain actively opposed to the transaction.
Bloomberg Law
ABC News
TTAM Research Institute has committed to maintaining 23andMe's existing customer privacy policies, allowing users to delete their data and opt out of research. It has promised to establish a consumer privacy advisory board within 90 days of the sale closing.
Los Angeles Times
USA Today
23andMe filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in March following a series of setbacks, including a 2023 data breach that exposed the personal information of nearly 7 million customers, and a mass resignation of board directors in 2024.
Los Angeles Times
ABC News

Sources Split

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The Spin

Narrative A

This sale protects consumer privacy by keeping genetic data under the same leadership that built the company's privacy framework. Wojcicki's nonprofit structure ensures data won't be exploited for profit. The enhanced privacy protections actually strengthen consumer safeguards beyond what existed before.

USA Today

WSOC TV

Narrative B

This court approval sets a dangerous precedent for selling sensitive genetic data without explicit customer consent, exposing loopholes in privacy laws. Despite its nonprofit status, the transfer still violates state privacy statutes and creates regulatory uncertainty about future data protection.