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Anne Wojcicki Takes Back the Helm at 23andMe with $305 Million Acquisition

In a dramatic turn for one of Silicon Valley’s most high-profile biotech firms, Anne Wojcicki, co-founder and former CEO of 23andMe, is officially regaining control of the company she helped build from the ground up.

On Friday, 23andMe announced that TTAM Research Institute, a nonprofit organization founded by Wojcicki, will acquire substantially all of the company's assets for $305 million. The deal includes the company’s core consumer DNA testing business, its research services division, and its telehealth subsidiary, Lemonaid Health.

The purchase marks a major comeback for Wojcicki, who stepped down as CEO earlier this year after the company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in March 2025.

Bidding War: Regeneron vs. Wojcicki

Just weeks before the announcement, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals had emerged as the leading bidder with an offer of $256 million during a bankruptcy auction. However, Wojcicki — determined to steer the future of the company — returned with a surprise $305 million offer through TTAM, pushing the court to reopen the auction.

The name TTAM is reportedly an acronym representing the letters of "23andMe," a nod to its legacy and future vision.

The acquisition is now pending approval by the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Missouri.

A Legacy of Innovation and Controversy

Founded in 2006, 23andMe revolutionized consumer health with its at-home DNA kits, which provided users with personalized insights into their ancestry, genetic health risks, and inherited traits. The company was one of the first to combine direct-to-consumer genetics with research and biotech partnerships, attracting millions of users.

In 2021, 23andMe went public via a SPAC (Special Purpose Acquisition Company) merger, at a valuation nearing $6 billion. But the momentum didn’t last.

Despite early enthusiasm, the company faced mounting challenges:

• Declining kit sales post-COVID boom
• Inconsistent recurring revenue from its research and therapeutic ventures
• Intense regulatory scrutiny around consumer privacy and genetic data
• A major data breach in 2023, when hackers accessed sensitive information from nearly 7 million users, sparking widespread concern

What Wojcicki’s Return Could Mean

In a statement Friday, Wojcicki emphasized her long-term mission:

“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 said.

Insiders say the move signals a shift away from shareholder-driven public market pressures, giving Wojcicki the freedom to rebuild the company’s research-first foundation — without Wall Street breathing down its neck.

The nonprofit model could enable 23andMe to focus more on scientific innovation, data transparency, and public trust, especially as the use of genetic data becomes more widespread across healthcare and pharma.

What's Next for 23andMe?

If approved, the TTAM acquisition could reshape the trajectory of 23andMe, bringing the company back under the control of a founder with deep knowledge of both the science and the brand.

The question remains: can a nonprofit structure succeed where a publicly traded biotech firm stumbled?

Industry analysts are watching closely. The global direct-to-consumer genetic testing market, valued at over $2.5 billion in 2024, is expected to reach $4.8 billion by 2030, according to ResearchAndMarkets.

With genetic data increasingly central to precision medicine, pharmaceuticals, and personalized care, Wojcicki's next move could help determine the future of consumer genomics.

For now, she’s betting that with the right vision — and fewer corporate constraints — 23andMe can reclaim its place as a pioneer in the space it helped create.