Regeneron acquires 23andMe for $256 million, sparking privacy concerns over genetic data
By ramontomeydw // 2025-05-21
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  • Regeneron bought bankrupt 23andMe for $256M, acquiring its massive genetic database after a breach exposed 6.9M users' DNA and health data.
  • 23andMe's value crashed from $6B due to declining demand and a cyberattack that stole ancestry, health and family tree data – initially underreported.
  • Privacy concerns persist as Regeneron integrates 23andMe's 12M-user database; anonymized genetic data is often shared without full consent.
  • 23andMe pivoted from consumer trust to drug development profits, prompting warnings from regulators to delete data over financial instability risks.
  • Genetic data is permanent, making breaches irreversible and corporate control ethically risky compared to other sensitive information.
In a move that underscores the high stakes of genetic data ownership, pharmaceutical powerhouse Regeneron Pharmaceuticals has purchased bankrupt DNA testing giant 23andMe in a court-supervised auction. The $256 million deal announced Monday, May 19, hands one of the world's largest troves of consumer genetic information to a biotech firm with deep ties to medical research. It followed months of financial turmoil for 23andMe – including a devastating data breach exposing 6.9 million users' sensitive information and warnings from California Attorney General Rob Bonta urging customers to delete their data. Once a pioneer in consumer genetics, 23andMe saw its market value plummet from nearly $6 billion in 2021 to bankruptcy in 2024, The San Francisco-based company was crippled by waning demand for at-home DNA test. It also suffered from the fallout from a massive cyberattack. Hackers exploited weak security measures to steal ancestry reports, health data and even family tree details. While initially downplaying the breach, 23andMe was eventually forced to admit that nearly all its customers were affected. The hacking incident amplified long-standing fears about corporate stewardship of genetic data. Now, as Regeneron takes control, privacy advocates and consumers are questioning what happens next to the genetic blueprints of millions. The New York-based Regeneron insisted in a press release that it will uphold strict privacy standards. "We assure 23andMe customers that we are committed to protecting the dataset with our high standards of data privacy, security and ethical oversight," said Dr. Aris Baras, head of Regeneron's genetics center. The biotechnology firm made headlines over its gene-based drug discovery and a monoclonal antibody treatment for the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19), which President Donald Trump received in 2020.

How 23andMe's bankruptcy hands your genetic data to Big Pharma

Yet the company's plans to integrate 23andMe's database of 12 million users into its research programs have raised eyebrows. Regeneron already collaborates with global institutions to link deidentified DNA with health records. This practice, critics argue, blurs the line between voluntary testing and commodified medical research. The deal also highlights a broader ethical dilemma: The lack of transparency in how genetic data is repurposed. In March, Bonta had warned 23andMe users to delete their profiles before the bankruptcy, citing "financial distress" as a risk to data security. While Regeneron pledges compliance with privacy laws, the fine print of consent forms – often glossed over by consumers – has historically allowed companies to share anonymized data with third parties, including pharmaceutical firms. For 23andMe, the sale marks an abrupt fall from grace. Co-founder Anne Wojcicki, who stepped down as CEO ahead of the bankruptcy, once championed "consumer empowerment" in genetics. (Related: Anne Wojcicki accused of running "biological Ponzi scheme" with 23andMe.) But the company's shift toward monetizing user data for drug development, coupled with its failure to safeguard that data, eroded trust. "There is no doubt the challenges have been real," Wojcicki conceded in a March statement, though she defended the company's mission. As Regeneron prepares to absorb 23andMe's assets by late 2025, the transaction serves as a cautionary tale. Genetic data, unlike a stolen credit card number, is immutable – a fact that makes breaches irreversible and corporate custody fraught with risk. In an era where DNA can be weaponized for discrimination, surveillance or profit, the 23andMe saga forces a reckoning. Who gets to decide the future of genetic code? For 6.9 million people, the answer now lies in the hands of a pharmaceutical giant. Watch Jefferey Jaxen and Del Bigtree discussing 23andMe's data liquidation following its bankruptcy in this clip. This video is from The HighWire with Del Bigtree channel on Brighteon.com.

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Hackers target 23andMe DNA testing company, gain access to 6.9 MILLION user profiles. DNA testing giant 23AndMe terminates 40% of its workforce amid falling revenues. 23andMe bankruptcy puts 15 million Americans' DNA data at risk. Sources include: YourNews.com Newsroom.Regeneron.com TheEpochTimes.com Brighteon.com
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