Judge Approves 23andMe Sale to Founder’s Nonprofit, Appeal Deadline Looms Amid Privacy Concerns
Judge Approves 23andMe Sale to Founder’s Nonprofit, Appeal Deadline Looms Amid Privacy Concerns
A U.S. bankruptcy judge has given the green light for the insolvent genetics firm 23andMe to be sold to TTAM Research Institute, a nonprofit established by co-founder Anne Wojcicki. This ruling, delivered by Judge Brian Walsh of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in the Eastern District of Missouri, aims to circumvent the controversial transfer of millions of customers’ sensitive DNA data to a commercial third party.
The decision comes after a previous auction saw Regeneron Pharmaceuticals win a bid, sparking widespread outcry and lawsuits from more than two dozen states concerned about the sale of genetic information. The re-opened bidding ultimately led to TTAM Research Institute securing the assets for $305 million, with plans to use the DNA data for medical research under improved privacy policies.
Despite the approval, several states, including California, Kentucky, Tennessee, Texas, and Utah, remain actively opposed to the sale. These states have until midnight on July 7 to secure a stay in order to appeal the ruling, keeping the future of 23andMe’s vast genetic database in legal limbo. The case highlights ongoing debates about genetic privacy, data ownership in bankruptcy, and the urgent need for clearer legislative safeguards.
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