Fact Check: Regeneron Pharmaceuticals announced it would purchase most of 23andMe’s assets for $256 million before Wojcicki's bid.

Fact Check: "Regeneron Pharmaceuticals announced it would purchase most of 23andMe’s assets for $256 million before Wojcicki's bid."

What We Know

On May 19, 2025, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals announced that it had been named the successful bidder for substantially all of 23andMe's assets in a bankruptcy auction, with an offer of $256 million. This acquisition was intended to help Regeneron enhance its capabilities in genetics-guided research and drug development, while also ensuring the continuation of 23andMe's consumer genome services (Regeneron, Fierce Biotech).

However, shortly after Regeneron's announcement, Anne Wojcicki, the co-founder of 23andMe, submitted a competing bid through her nonprofit organization, TTAM Research Institute, which ultimately outbid Regeneron with an offer of $305 million. This bid was confirmed on June 13, 2025, indicating that Wojcicki regained control over 23andMe (CNBC, Reuters).

Analysis

The claim that Regeneron announced its acquisition of 23andMe's assets before Wojcicki's bid is misleading. While it is true that Regeneron was the initial successful bidder at $256 million, this occurred during a bankruptcy auction process. Wojcicki's bid was submitted after Regeneron's announcement, effectively outbidding them (Reuters, CNBC).

The timeline of events is crucial here. Regeneron made its bid public on May 19, 2025, but Wojcicki's bid was made shortly thereafter, leading to a competitive auction scenario. The assertion that Regeneron "would purchase" the assets implies finality that did not exist, as the auction was still open and competitive.

Furthermore, the sources used to substantiate the claim about Regeneron's bid do not indicate that the acquisition was finalized before Wojcicki's bid. Instead, they confirm that the bidding process was ongoing, and Regeneron's bid was ultimately surpassed by Wojcicki's (Fierce Biotech, Regeneron).

Conclusion

Verdict: False
The claim that "Regeneron Pharmaceuticals announced it would purchase most of 23andMe’s assets for $256 million before Wojcicki's bid" is false. Regeneron did announce its bid first, but it was not a finalized purchase, and Wojcicki's subsequent bid outbid Regeneron, leading to her acquisition of the assets. The competitive nature of the auction and the timing of the bids are critical to understanding the situation accurately.

Sources

1. Regeneron to buy bankrupt 23andMe, vows ethical use of customer DNA
2. 23andMe's founder Anne Wojcicki wins bid for bankrupt company
3. Regeneron Enters into Asset Purchase Agreement to Acquire 23andMe® for $256 Million
4. Anne Wojcicki to buy back 23andMe and its data for $305 million
5. Regeneron wins bid to buy 23andMe out of bankruptcy
6. Regeneron's $256M bid wins 23andMe bankruptcy auction