Anne Wojcicki to Regain Control of 23andMe’s Assets

In a surprising turn of events, Anne Wojcicki, the founder and former CEO of 23andMe, is poised to regain control of the DNA company’s assets. This development follows a bankruptcy auction where a company named Regeneron bought 23andMe for $256 million had initially acquired the assets. However, Wojcicki’s nonprofit organization, TTAM Research Institute, successfully reopened the bidding process with an unsolicited offer of $305 million The Wall Street Journal reports.

Bankruptcy Judge Approves Reopening of Bidding

A bankruptcy judge has agreed to reopen the bidding for 23andMe, stipulating that Regeneron must exceed Wojcicki’s proposed price by at least $10 million, as reported by The Wall Street Journal. Regeneron opted not to increase their bid, which leaves 23andMe under the control of TTAM, pending judicial approval of the deal. A hearing to evaluate this new arrangement is scheduled for June 17, 2025.

Regeneron’s Initial Plans for 23andMe

Prior to this development, Regeneron had intended to retain all of 23andMe’s employees and continue offering consumer DNA testing kits. The genetic data provided by 23andMe is not only valuable for ancestry inquiries but also serves as a critical resource for identifying potential health risks. In Regeneron’s case, this data could be instrumental in pinpointing drug targets.

Future Plans for Customer Data and Privacy

While Wojcicki’s future plans for 23andMe remain somewhat unclear, the company’s announcement outlines several customer data and privacy protections that TTAM Research Institute has committed to uphold. These include allowing customers to delete their data and opt-out of research, establishing a Consumer Privacy Advocacy Board, and a promise not to sell or transfer genetic data in the event of another bankruptcy—unless the buyer agrees to the same privacy protections.

Wojcicki’s Vision for 23andMe

Wojcicki has been focused on maintaining control of the company’s assets since 23andMe declared bankruptcy declared bankruptcy in March 2025. She had initially stepped down as CEO to facilitate her bid for the company. “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,” Wojcicki stated. “We believe it is critical that individuals are empowered to have choice and transparency with respect to their genetic data and have the opportunity to continue to learn about their ancestry and health risks as they wish.”

Challenges Faced by 23andMe

Before declaring bankruptcy, 23andMe faced a series of challenges, including a significant data breach in 2023 that affected millions of customers and widespread layoffs in 2024 that affected 40 percent. These events contributed to the company’s financial struggles and eventual bankruptcy filing.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at Engadget.