Anne Wojcicki, the visionary co-founder and former CEO of 23andMe, is set to regain control of the pioneering genetic testing company she helped build. Through her California-based nonprofit, TTAM Research Institute, Wojcicki secured a winning $305 million bid in a high-stakes second auction, outmaneuvering pharmaceutical giant Regeneron and marking a new chapter for the embattled DNA testing firm.
23andMe, once valued at nearly $6 billion and famed for its at-home DNA testing kits, has endured a turbulent stretch in recent years. The company faced mounting financial losses, a devastating cyberattack in 2023 that compromised millions of users’ data, and a subsequent class-action lawsuit. In September 2024, all seven independent board members resigned, citing disagreements with Wojcicki’s strategy and efforts to privatize the company. By March 2025, 23andMe filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, and Wojcicki stepped down as CEO, setting the stage for an intense bidding war for the company’s future.
Initially, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals appeared poised to acquire 23andMe for $256 million after the first bankruptcy auction. However, Wojcicki’s TTAM Research Institute made an unsolicited, higher offer of $305 million, prompting the court to reopen the bidding process. Regeneron declined to raise its bid, leaving TTAM as the victor, pending final court approval.
Wojcicki’s reacquisition comes with a bold new vision: 23andMe will now operate as a nonprofit public benefit corporation under TTAM. The organization has pledged to uphold and strengthen customer privacy protections, including the creation of a Consumer Privacy Advisory Board within 90 days of closing the deal. Customers will retain the right to delete their data and opt out of research, addressing long-standing concerns about genetic data privacy.
“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 wrote on LinkedIn. “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”
The acquisition is expected to close in the coming weeks, pending court approval. TTAM has committed to notifying customers ahead of the transition and ensuring a smooth handover. For Wojcicki, this marks a personal and professional comeback, as she seeks to restore 23andMe’s reputation and refocus its mission on consumer empowerment and genomic research.
The saga illustrates the volatility of the consumer genetics industry, where privacy, profitability, and public trust are constantly in flux. With TTAM at the helm, 23andMe’s future now hinges on its ability to rebuild confidence, innovate responsibly, and deliver on the promise of personalized health insights without compromising user data.
