Drugmaker Regeneron Pharmaceuticals will buy genetic testing firm 23andMe for $256 million through a bankruptcy auction, the companies said Monday.

Regeneron said it will comply with 23andMe’s privacy policies and applicable laws with respect to the use of customer data and that it is ready to detail its intended use of the data to a court-appointed overseer.

The bankruptcy proceedings, filed in March, had drawn scrutiny from lawmakers who warned that millions of customers’ genetic data could be sold to unscrupulous buyers.

  • just_another_person@lemmy.world
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    2 months ago

    Wow. That’s quite a deal, but then I wonder what they’re getting out of it that isn’t absolutely terrifying to people who foolishly gave 23 their DNA.

    • Wahots
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      2 months ago

      Could have been worse, could have been a medical insurance company.

      • MalReynolds@slrpnk.net
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        2 months ago

        Like they won’t be selling to all the insurance companies… One would’ve been better.

  • magnetosphere@fedia.io
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    2 months ago

    “Regeneron” sounds like a lazily made-up name for a fictional evil corporation from the 80s.

    I know “evil corporation” is somewhat redundant, but I’m just trying to drive my point home.