Anne Wojcicki to Regain Control of 23andMe’s Assets in Auction Reversal
In a significant development concerning 23andMe, founder and former CEO Anne Wojcicki is poised to reclaim control of the firm’s assets. This comes following a bankruptcy auction where the company was initially sold to Regeneron for $256 million. However, a press release from 23andMe indicates that Wojcicki’s nonprofit organization, TTAM Research Institute, has submitted an unsolicited bid of $305 million, prompting a reopening of the bidding process.
Bankruptcy Auction Details
According to The Wall Street Journal, a bankruptcy judge has accepted the request to reopen the bidding for 23andMe, contingent upon Regeneron increasing its bid by a minimum of $10 million. Regeneron has since opted not to raise their offer, leaving the path clear for TTAM to potentially secure ownership, pending judicial approval at an upcoming hearing scheduled for June 17, 2025.
Future of Employment and Services
Prior to this turnaround, Regeneron had intended to maintain the current workforce and continue providing consumer DNA testing services. The genetic data collected by 23andMe is not only valuable for ancestry exploration but also crucial in identifying health risks and potential drug targets—a focus area for Regeneron.
Wojcicki’s Commitment to Customer Privacy
While Wojcicki’s future plans for 23andMe remain somewhat ambiguous, the company has announced various commitments to safeguard customer data and privacy. Key provisions include:
- Allowing users to delete their data and opt out of research initiatives.
- Establishing a Consumer Privacy Advocacy Board.
- A pledge not to sell or transfer genetic data in the event of future bankruptcy, unless the new buyer agrees to the same stringent privacy commitments.
Maintaining control of 23andMe has been Wojcicki’s goal since the company filed for bankruptcy in March 2025. In a strategic move, she resigned as CEO to participate in the bidding.
A Statement from Wojcicki
Expressing her enthusiasm about this development, Wojcicki stated, “I am thrilled that TTAM Research Institute will be able to continue the mission of 23andMe to help people access, understand, and benefit from the human genome.” She emphasized the importance of giving individuals the autonomy and transparency they need concerning their genetic data, allowing them to explore their ancestry and health risks at their discretion.
Challenges Faced by 23andMe
The journey to this point has not been easy for 23andMe, which encountered significant challenges leading up to its bankruptcy, including a major data breach in 2023 that affected millions of customers and substantial layoffs in 2024 that impacted 40% of its workforce.
For ongoing updates and further developments on this story, stay tuned.
This article aims to provide essential insights into the recent changes at 23andMe while emphasizing key facts and commitments towards customer privacy, making it accessible for readers searching for information on this topic.
