History of 23andMe in Timeline

23andMe is a personal genomics and biotechnology company offering direct-to-consumer genetic testing. Customers provide saliva samples for lab analysis, which uses SNP genotyping to generate reports on ancestry and health predispositions. Based in South San Francisco, the company derives its name from the 23 pairs of human chromosomes. It is primarily known for its ancestry tracing and health risk assessment services based on individual genetic data.

2006: 23andMe Founded

In 2006, 23andMe was founded and soon became the first company to offer autosomal DNA testing for ancestry.

November 2007: Direct-to-Consumer Genetic Testing Offered

In November 2007, 23andMe began offering direct-to-consumer genetic testing.

2007: Google Invests in 23andMe

In 2007, Google invested $3.9 million in 23andMe, along with Genentech, New Enterprise Associates, and Mohr Davidow Ventures.

2007: Cusenza Leaves 23andMe

In 2007, Paul Cusenza left 23andMe to join Nodal Exchange as CEO.

2007: Initial Price of Testing Service

In 2007, the initial price of the full direct-to-consumer testing service in the US was $999.

August 2008: 23andMe Receives CLIA Licenses

By August 2008, 23andMe had received licenses that allowed them to continue to do business in California after New York and California provided notice that companies needed to obtain a CLIA license in order to sell tests in those states.

2008: Dialogue with FDA

According to Anne Wojcicki, 23andMe has been in dialogue with the FDA since 2008.

2008: Time names 23andMe "Invention of the Year"

In 2008, Time Magazine named 23andMe's saliva-based, direct-to-consumer genetic testing business as the "Invention of the Year".

2008: Price Reduction to $399

In 2008, the price of 23andMe's full direct-to-consumer testing service in the US was reduced from $999 to $399.

2009: Avey Leaves 23andMe

In 2009, Linda Avey left 23andMe.

2009: Split into Three Products

In late 2009, 23andMe split its genotyping service into three products with different prices: an Ancestry Edition, a Health edition, and a Complete Edition.

2010: 23andMe Validates NIH Work on Parkinson's Disease

In 2010, 23andMe stated that it was able to use its database to validate work published by the NIH, identifying mutations in the gene that codes for glucocerebrosidase as a risk factor for Parkinson's disease.

2010: FDA Notification on Genetic Tests

In 2010, the FDA notified several genetic testing companies, including 23andMe, that their genetic tests are considered medical devices and federal approval is required to market them.

2010: Introduction of Monthly Subscription Fee

In late 2010, 23andMe introduced a monthly subscription fee for updates based on new medical research findings.

2010: FDA Approval for Illumina BeadXpress System

Up until 2010, Illumina only sold instruments that were labeled "for research use only"; in early 2010, Illumina obtained FDA approval for its BeadXpress system to be used in clinical tests.

2011: Avey Co-Founds Curious, Inc.

In 2011, Linda Avey co-founded Curious, Inc.

July 2012: 23andMe Acquires CureTogether

In July 2012, 23andMe acquired the startup CureTogether, a crowdsourced treatment ratings website with data on over 600 medical conditions.

September 2012: First FDA Clearance Applications Submitted

In September 2012, 23andMe first submitted applications for FDA clearance.

2012: 23andMe Raises $50 Million in Series D Round

In 2012, 23andMe raised $50 million in a Series D venture round.

2012: Price Reduction to $99

In 2012, the price of 23andMe's full direct-to-consumer testing service in the US was reduced to $99.

2012: Elimination of Monthly Subscription Fee

In mid-2012, the monthly subscription model was eliminated by 23andMe due to it being unpopular with customers.

November 2013: FDA Guidance on Genetic Analysis

In November 2013, the FDA published guidance on how it classified genetic analysis and testing services offered by companies using instruments and chips labelled for "research use only" and instruments and chips that had been approved for clinical use.

November 22, 2013: Suspension of Health-Related Results in the US

Health-related results for US customers who purchased the test from November 22, 2013, were suspended until late 2015 while undergoing an FDA regulatory review.

November 25, 2013: 23andMe Responds to Media Reports on FDA Concerns

On November 25, 2013, 23andMe publicly responded to media reports, acknowledging that they had not met the FDA's expectations regarding timeline and communication about their submission. CEO Anne Wojcicki posted an update, emphasizing the importance of their relationship with the FDA and their commitment to addressing concerns.

December 2, 2013: FDA Orders Halt to Marketing of Saliva Collection Kit

On December 2, 2013, the FDA ordered 23andMe to cease marketing its saliva collection kit and personal genome service (PGS) because the company had not demonstrated analytical or clinical validation of the PGS for its intended uses.

December 5, 2013: 23andMe Suspends Health-Related Genetic Tests

On December 5, 2013, 23andMe announced that it had suspended health-related genetic tests for new customers who purchased the test after November 22, 2013, to comply with the FDA warning letter while undergoing regulatory review.

December 5, 2013: 23andMe Sells Raw Genetic Data and Ancestry Results

On December 5, 2013, 23andMe stopped selling health-related genetic tests and began selling only raw genetic data and ancestry-related results.

2013: Questions Raised on Informed Consent

Since at least 2013, questions have been raised regarding 23andMe's ability to obtain informed consent through its web-based interactions with people submitting samples for sequencing.

May 2014: 23andMe Explores Alternative Locations Abroad

In May 2014, 23andMe was reported to be exploring locations in Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom to offer its full genetic testing service.

October 2014: 23andMe Sells Product in Canada

In October 2014, 23andMe began selling a product with both ancestry and health-related components in Canada.

October 2014: Product Launched in Canada

In October 2014, the initial price of the product sold in Canada, which includes health-related results, was CA$99.

December 2014: 23andMe Sells Product in the UK

In December 2014, 23andMe began selling a product with both ancestry and health-related components in the UK.

December 2014: Product Launched in the UK

In December 2014, the initial price of the product sold in the UK, which includes health-related results, was £125.

2014: 23andMe Submits 510(k) Application to FDA

In 2014, 23andMe submitted a 510(k) application to the FDA to market a carrier test for Bloom syndrome, including data showing consistent and reliable results, and ease of use.

February 2015: FDA Clears 23andMe Carrier Test for Bloom Syndrome

In February 2015, the FDA cleared 23andMe's carrier test for Bloom syndrome, stating that it would not require similar applications for other carrier tests from 23andMe.

October 1, 2015: FDA Sends Further Clarification About Regulation of Test

On October 1, 2015, the FDA sent further clarification about regulation of the test to 23andMe.

October 2015: FDA Approves Revised Health Component

In October 2015, 23andMe's DNA tests ordered in the US included a revised health component, per FDA approval, marking a resolution to a previously fraught relationship with the FDA.

October 2015: US Price Raised to $199

In October 2015, the US price of 23andMe's full direct-to-consumer testing service was raised to $199.

October 21, 2015: Resumption of Health Information

On October 21, 2015, 23andMe announced that it would resume providing health information in the form of carrier status and wellness reports with FDA approval, after only selling raw genetic data and ancestry-related results in the US due to FDA restrictions from November 22, 2013.

2015: Resumption of Health-Related Results

Health-related results for US customers who purchased the test from November 22, 2013, were resumed in late 2015 after undergoing an FDA regulatory review.

2015: 23andMe Pursues Drug Discovery and Partners with Pfizer

In 2015, 23andMe made a business decision to pursue drug discovery under Richard Scheller, focusing on Parkinson's disease and utilizing the 23andMe database to search for rare variants. The company also set up research agreements with Pfizer to explore the genetic causes of inflammatory bowel disease.

2015: 23andMe Raises $115 Million in Series E Offering

In 2015, 23andMe raised $115 million in a Series E offering, increasing capital to $241 million.

2015: 23andMe Tracks Law Enforcement Data Requests

Starting in 2015, 23andMe began tracking requests from law enforcement for user data.

September 2016: Ancestry-Only Version Offered Again

In September 2016, an ancestry-only version of 23andMe was once again offered at a lower price of $99 with an option to upgrade to include the health component for an additional $125 later.

October 2016: Launch of African Genetics Program

In October 2016, the African Genetics Program was launched with a grant from the US National Institutes of Health, aiming to rectify the lack of data about Asia and Africa by recruiting sub-Saharan Africans to increase the genomic data on racial and ethnic minorities.

2016: 23andMe Ends Next Generation Sequencing Project

In 2016, 23andMe ended a project to provide customers with next generation sequencing, fearing results would be too complicated. Also in 2016, 23andMe located 17 genetic loci that seem to be associated with depression.

April 2017: FDA Approves 23andMe Applications for Ten Genetic Risk Tests

In April 2017, the FDA approved 23andMe's applications for ten tests that provide information about gene mutations or alleles that increase the risk of certain diseases, including late-onset Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and celiac disease. The FDA also indicated that it would exempt further 23andMe genetic risk tests from needing 510(k) applications.

September 2017: Rumors of Raising Another $200 Million

In September 2017, there were rumors that 23andMe was raising another $200 million with a $1.5 billion valuation.

2017: 23andMe Collaborates on Psychiatric Disorders

In 2017, 23andMe, Lundbeck, and the Milken Institute started collaborations to focus on psychiatric disorders, such as bipolar disorder and major depression, with goals to determine genetic roots and pursue drug discovery.

February 2018: 3,000,000 Individuals Genotyped

As of February 2018, 23andMe has genotyped over 3,000,000 individuals.

February 2018: Ancestry Reporting Update

In February 2018, 23andMe announced that its ancestry reporting would tell people what country they were from, not just what region, and increased the number of regions by 120. The Global Genetics Program was also announced in February 2018, aiming to increase the genomic data of 61 underrepresented countries by providing free tests.

March 2018: FDA Approves Direct-to-Consumer Test for BRCA Mutations

In March 2018, the FDA approved a de novo application from 23andMe for a direct-to-consumer test for three specific BRCA mutations, common in people of Ashkenazi descent, which increase the risk of breast and ovarian cancer in women, and breast and prostate cancer in men.

April 2018: Populations Collaboration Program Announced

In April 2018, 23andMe announced the Populations Collaboration Program, which sets up formal collaborations between the company and researchers that are investigating underrepresented countries.

May 2018: 23andMe Must Abide by GDPR

Effective May 25, 2018, 23andMe became obligated to comply with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), which helps individuals control their data and restricts a company's use of personal data.

July 25, 2018: Partnership with GlaxoSmithKline

On July 25, 2018, 23andMe announced a partnership with GlaxoSmithKline to allow the pharmaceutical company to use test results from 5 million customers to design new drugs. GlaxoSmithKline also invested $300 million in the company.

2019: 23andMe Moves to New Headquarters

In 2019, 23andMe moved to a larger headquarters in Sunnyvale, California.

January 2020: 23andMe Announces Layoffs

In January 2020, 23andMe announced it would lay off about 100 employees in its consumer testing division.

June 2020: 23andMe Study Claims Type O Blood May Lower COVID-19 Risk

In June 2020, 23andMe published results from a study claiming that people with type O blood may be at a lower risk of catching COVID-19, with those having type O blood being 9–18% less likely to contract the virus.

July 2020: First Clinical Trial Announced with GlaxoSmithKline

In July 2020, 23andMe and GlaxoSmithKline announced their partnership's first clinical trial: a joint asset being co-developed by the two companies for cancer treatment.

October 1, 2020: Launch of 23andMe+

Since October 1, 2020, 23andMe has offered a new service called "23andMe+", priced at $29/year, for the customers of the "Health + Ancestry" service, who completed genotyping on version 5 of the microarray chip used by the company.

December 2020: 23andMe Raises $82.5 Million in Series F Round

In December 2020, 23andMe raised around $82.5 million in a Series F round, bringing the total raised over the years to over $850M.

February 2021: Merger Agreement with VG Acquisition Corp

In February 2021, 23andMe announced that it had entered into a definitive agreement to merge with Sir Richard Branson's special-purpose acquisition company, VG Acquisition Corp, in a $3.5 billion transaction.

April 2021: 23andMe COVID-19 Study Published

In April 2021, the 23andMe study claiming that people with type O blood may be at a lower risk of catching COVID-19 was published.

June 2021: Merger with VG Acquisition Corp Completed

In June 2021, 23andMe completed the merger with VG Acquisition Corp. The combined company was renamed to 23andMe Holding Co.

June 17, 2021: 23andMe Begins Trading on Nasdaq

On June 17, 2021, 23andMe Holding Co. began trading on the Nasdaq stock exchange under the ticker symbol "ME".

October 2021: 23andMe to Acquire Lemonaid Health

In October 2021, 23andMe announced that it would acquire Lemonaid Health, a telehealth company, for $400 million with the deal closing in November.

2021: 23andMe Reaches Peak Market Capitalization

After 23andMe became a publicly traded company in 2021, it reached a market capitalization of $6 billion.

2021: Acquisition of Lemonaid Health

At the end of 2021, 23andMe acquired leading digital healthcare company Lemonaid Health for $400m to "...give patients and healthcare providers better information about health risks and treatment".

2021: 23andMe Becomes Publicly Traded

In 2021, 23andMe became a publicly traded company via a merger with a Special Purpose Acquisition Company (SPAC) and soon had a market capitalization of US$6 billion.

January 2022: GlaxoSmithKline Partnership Extended

In January 2022, the partnership between 23andMe and GlaxoSmithKline was extended until July 2023 with an additional $50 million payment from GlaxoSmithKline.

July 2023: End of GlaxoSmithKline Partnership Extension

The extended partnership between 23andMe and GlaxoSmithKline ended in July 2023.

October 2023: Data Breach at 23andMe

In October 2023, 23andMe experienced a significant data breach where hackers stole sensitive information of approximately 7 million users, including names, addresses, and genetic data, which was subsequently sold online.

February 2024: 14,000,000 Individuals Genotyped

In February 2024, 23andMe said they had genotyped more than 14,000,000 individuals.

July 2024: Wojcicki Announces Intention to Take 23andMe Private

In July 2024, Anne Wojcicki announced her intention to take 23andMe private, by paying 40 cents each for all outstanding shares not already owned by her. The proposal was rejected.

September 2024: Law Enforcement Requests for User Data

As of September 2024, 23andMe's transparency report states that they had received requests from law enforcement for 15 US users' data since 2015 and none from other countries, with zero data produced per user account.

2024: 23andMe Faces Financial Trouble and Data Security Concerns

At the end of 2024, 23andMe was in serious financial trouble, losing 98% of its market value. Customers attempted to delete data. Raising concerns the company could change its privacy policy, or the data could be sold.

2024: 23andMe Valuation Falls

By 2024, 23andMe's valuation had fallen to 2% of its peak valuation achieved in 2021.

January 2025: 23andMe Declares Need for Additional Liquidity

In January 2025, 23andMe declared that it would need additional liquidity to fund operations, and was actively exploring strategic alternatives including a potential sale of the company.

March 2025: 23andMe Files for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy

In March 2025, 23andMe filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, and Anne Wojcicki resigned as CEO.

March 23, 2025: 23andMe Files for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy

On March 23, 2025, 23andMe filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in Delaware as part of a plan to sell its assets. Anne Wojcicki also announced that she would be stepping down from her role as CEO.

2025: 23andMe Files for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy

In March of 2025, 23andMe filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and their founder and CEO resigned. Following the announcement of bankruptcy, California Attorney General Rob Bonta issued a privacy consumer alert regarding data. The company said there won't be any changes to the way it protects consumer data while in bankruptcy court.