Sold to a pharmaceutical company…
www.malwarebytes.com
The bankrupt genetic testing company 23andMe has been scooped up by drug producer Regeneron Pharmaceuticals for $256 million dollars.
But why would a pharmaceutical company like Regeneron buy a bankrupt genetics testing company like 23andMe for such a large amount of money?
Well, Regeneron is a leading biotechnology company that invents, develops, and monetizes life-transforming medicines for people with serious diseases. So, it seems obvious that Regeneron’s primary interest lies in the genetic data collected by 23andMe, and the situation raises complex ethical, privacy, and security concerns that customers should understand and address.
Regeneron has pledged to uphold data privacy and security, working closely with a court-appointed Customer Privacy Ombudsman, acknowledging the importance of customer data protection and the ethical use of genetic information.
Dr. George Yancopoulos, Regeneron’s president, said in a statement:
Regeneron already manages genetic data from nearly three million people, so 23andMe’s 15 million customers significantly expand this resource. Besides the genetic data itself, Regeneron likely values the consumer genetics business infrastructure and research services that 23andMe built, which can complement Regeneron’s pharmaceutical pipeline and personalized medicine efforts.
Genetic data is uniquely sensitive because it contains deeply personal information about an individual’s health risks, ancestry, and even family relationships. Unlike traditional medical records protected under HIPAA, 23andMe’s genetic data is covered primarily by consumer privacy laws, which offer weaker protections.
People that have submitted samples to 23andMe have three different options, each providing a different level of privacy.
23andMe and its customers' genetic data bought by a pharmaceutical org
The bankrupt 23andMe, along with all of its genetic data, has been bought by US drugmaker Regeneron Pharmaceuticals.
www.malwarebytes.com
23andMe and its customers’ genetic data bought by a pharmaceutical org
Posted: May 20, 2025 by Pieter ArntzThe bankrupt genetic testing company 23andMe has been scooped up by drug producer Regeneron Pharmaceuticals for $256 million dollars.
But why would a pharmaceutical company like Regeneron buy a bankrupt genetics testing company like 23andMe for such a large amount of money?
Well, Regeneron is a leading biotechnology company that invents, develops, and monetizes life-transforming medicines for people with serious diseases. So, it seems obvious that Regeneron’s primary interest lies in the genetic data collected by 23andMe, and the situation raises complex ethical, privacy, and security concerns that customers should understand and address.
Regeneron has pledged to uphold data privacy and security, working closely with a court-appointed Customer Privacy Ombudsman, acknowledging the importance of customer data protection and the ethical use of genetic information.
Dr. George Yancopoulos, Regeneron’s president, said in a statement:
However, the scenario is less grim than the fears uttered by Senator Cassidy, chair of the US Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, who expressed concerns about foreign adversaries, including the Chinese Communist Party, acquiring the sensitive genetic data of millions of Americans through 23andMe.
Regeneron already manages genetic data from nearly three million people, so 23andMe’s 15 million customers significantly expand this resource. Besides the genetic data itself, Regeneron likely values the consumer genetics business infrastructure and research services that 23andMe built, which can complement Regeneron’s pharmaceutical pipeline and personalized medicine efforts.
Genetic data is uniquely sensitive because it contains deeply personal information about an individual’s health risks, ancestry, and even family relationships. Unlike traditional medical records protected under HIPAA, 23andMe’s genetic data is covered primarily by consumer privacy laws, which offer weaker protections.
What can consumers do to protect their data?
Customers should actively manage their data on 23andMe by reviewing policies, deleting data if desired, and staying vigilant about how their sensitive genetic information is used.People that have submitted samples to 23andMe have three different options, each providing a different level of privacy.
1. Delete your genetic data from 23andMe
For 23andMe customers who want to delete their data from 23andMe:- Log into your account and navigate to Settings.
- Under Settings, scroll to the section titled 23andMe data. Select View.
- You will be asked to enter your date of birth for extra security.
- In the next section, you’ll be asked which, if there is any, personal data you’d like to download from the company (make sure you’re using a personal, not public, computer). Once you’re finished, scroll to the bottom and select Permanently delete data.
- You should then receive an email from 23andMe detailing its account deletion policy and requesting that you confirm your request. Once you confirm you’d like your data to be deleted, the deletion will begin automatically, and you’ll immediately lose access to your account.
I sent her my phone # and minutes later we were talking. My birth mother was/is still alive and the only person still breathing who knew about me. Her mother sent her off to a home for unwed mothers and everything was kept quiet back then. Sis asked her about any long lost siblings and she spilled the beans. We spoke for the first time a couple days later, after she told her husband about me coming along before they met. 
