Regeneron has agreed to acquire DNA-testing company 23andMe out of bankruptcy for $256 million. The biotechnology firm aims to keep the business running without disruption and uphold its promises on data protection. In a statement, Regeneron assured 23andMe’s 15 million customers that their genetic and health information will be secure.
Regeneron Genetics Center has a track record of safeguarding genetic data and plans to use this data to advance medical research. The company already possesses a dataset from nearly 3 million people. Following 23andMe’s financial struggles, concerns over data safety have been raised among consumers, lawmakers, and regulators. However, Regeneron has pledged to protect the dataset with high standards of privacy, security, and ethics.
Regeneron’s acquisition of 23andMe comes after California Attorney General Rob Bonta urged Californians to delete their genetic data amid financial distress. The Federal Trade Commission also emphasized the importance of agreeing to 23andMe’s privacy policies and applicable law when purchasing the company.
Source: https://arstechnica.com/science/2025/05/biotech-company-regeneron-to-buy-bankrupt-23andme-for-256m