Anne Wojcicki, co-founder of 23andMe, has formally requested a U.S. judge to reopen the bankruptcy auction of the genetic testing company, citing backing from a major Fortune 500 firm valued at over $400 billion. Wojcicki did not name this corporate supporter in court documents. Wojcicki contends that the auction process unjustly excluded her nonprofit entity, the TTAM Research Institute, which she founded.
23andMe, headquartered in South San Francisco, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in March 2025, following a decline in consumer demand and a notable data breach in 2023 that compromised sensitive genetic and personal information of millions of users. The company sought to sell its assets through a court-supervised auction to maximise value.
In May, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals emerged as the winning bidder with a $256 million offer, outbidding Wojcicki and TTAM’s $146 million proposal. However, in a filing dated May 31, Wojcicki alleged that 23andMe’s advisers unfairly limited TTAM’s maximum bid to $250 million, citing concerns over TTAM’s financial capacity. She insists that the auction was prematurely concluded before TTAM could submit a higher bid exceeding $280 million. Wojcicki claims the auction was prematurely closed to favour Regeneron.
The debtors of 23andMe, maintain that the auction was conducted fairly under the supervision of a special committee comprising four independent directors. According to recent court filings, the company is now seeking approval to allow both Regeneron and Wojcicki to submit final bids by June 12. If Wojcicki’s bid is accepted, 23andMe is asking the court for permission to pay Regeneron a $10 million breakup fee.
None of the parties involved, including Regeneron, TTAM, or 23andMe’s legal representatives have issued public comments on these latest developments.
