Regeneron Pharmaceuticals has announced plans to acquire genetic testing company 23andMe in a deal valued at approximately $310 million. The acquisition will give the biotechnology giant access to one of the world's largest consumer genetic databases, potentially accelerating drug discovery and development efforts.
The agreement, announced today, values 23andMe at $0.95 per share—a significant premium over recent trading prices but far below the company's initial public offering valuation when it went public in 2021 through a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) merger.
Strategic Value of Genetic Data
For Regeneron, the acquisition represents a strategic investment in genetic data that could enhance its drug discovery pipeline. 23andMe has amassed genetic information from over 14 million customers, with approximately 80% consenting to have their anonymized data used for research purposes.
"This acquisition aligns perfectly with our long-term strategy of using genetic insights to drive therapeutic innovation," said a Regeneron spokesperson. "The depth and breadth of 23andMe's database, combined with our existing capabilities in genetics and drug development, creates powerful new opportunities to identify and validate drug targets."
The genetic testing company has been building its database since 2006, collecting not only genetic information but also phenotypic data through customer surveys about health conditions, lifestyle factors, and family history. This combination of genetic and phenotypic data is particularly valuable for identifying correlations between genetic variants and disease risk.
Financial Challenges Leading to Acquisition
23andMe has faced significant financial headwinds in recent years. After going public in 2021 at a valuation of approximately $3.5 billion, the company's stock price has declined by more than 90%. The company has struggled with slowing consumer sales of its direct-to-consumer genetic testing kits and challenges in monetizing its vast genetic database.
In recent quarters, 23andMe implemented cost-cutting measures, including layoffs affecting approximately 30% of its workforce. The company has been exploring strategic alternatives, including potential sales of parts or all of its business.
"The reality is that building a sustainable business model around consumer genetic testing proved more challenging than anticipated," noted an industry analyst familiar with the deal. "While 23andMe pioneered the direct-to-consumer genetic testing market, translating that into consistent revenue growth and profitability has been difficult."
Implications for Drug Discovery
Regeneron has been at the forefront of using genetic data to inform drug development. The company has previously collaborated with 23andMe on research projects, but this acquisition gives Regeneron complete control over the database and associated intellectual property.
The pharmaceutical industry has increasingly recognized the value of large-scale genetic data in identifying drug targets with genetic validation, which can increase the probability of clinical success. By analyzing patterns across millions of genomes, researchers can identify genetic variants associated with disease risk or protection, potentially revealing new therapeutic targets.
Regeneron's existing Genetics Center has already sequenced over 2 million exomes in collaboration with health systems and biobanks. Adding 23andMe's database significantly expands the company's genetic resources.
Privacy Considerations
The acquisition raises questions about data privacy for 23andMe's customers. According to the terms of the deal, Regeneron will be bound by the same privacy commitments that 23andMe has made to its users.
"Customer privacy remains paramount," stated a joint press release from the companies. "Regeneron is committed to maintaining the same rigorous privacy protections that 23andMe customers have always expected, including honoring all existing consent choices."
Privacy experts note that while 23andMe has generally maintained strong privacy practices, the change in ownership could concern some customers who did not anticipate their genetic data eventually being owned by a pharmaceutical company.
Regulatory Review and Timeline
The acquisition is subject to regulatory approval and is expected to close in the first quarter of 2024. Antitrust regulators will likely review the deal, though analysts do not anticipate significant regulatory hurdles given the different primary business focuses of the two companies.
The boards of directors of both companies have unanimously approved the transaction. Under the terms of the agreement, 23andMe will become a wholly-owned subsidiary of Regeneron but will maintain its brand identity and consumer-facing operations.
Industry Implications
This acquisition reflects broader trends in the pharmaceutical industry, where companies are increasingly seeking access to large-scale biological data to inform drug discovery. Similar moves have been made by other pharmaceutical companies establishing partnerships with genetic testing companies and biobanks.
For the consumer genetic testing industry, this acquisition may signal further consolidation as companies struggle with the challenges of building sustainable business models solely around direct-to-consumer testing.
Industry observers suggest that the value of these companies increasingly lies in their accumulated data rather than their consumer testing services. This shift may lead other genetic testing companies to pursue similar exits through acquisitions by pharmaceutical or healthcare companies.
As the deal moves toward completion, both companies have indicated that 23andMe's ongoing research collaborations will continue, and Regeneron plans to invest in expanding the database further through continued consumer genetic testing services.
