23andMe, the pioneering DNA testing company, has filed for bankruptcy protection and announced the resignation of its CEO, Anne Wojcicki. The company, which revolutionized consumer DNA testing nearly two decades ago, has faced numerous challenges, including a class action lawsuit, user privacy concerns, and significant financial difficulties.

Founded in 2006 by Wojcicki, biologist Linda Avey, and Paul Cusenza, 23andMe quickly gained traction and secured substantial funding from investors like Google. The company launched its first DNA saliva test in 2007 for $999, offering insights into users’ health risks, ancestry, and inherited traits. Despite initial privacy concerns, 23andMe continued to grow, slashing prices and gaining recognition, including Time Magazine’s Invention of the Year in 2008.

However, the company faced regulatory hurdles when the FDA ordered it to stop marketing its genetic health screening service in 2013. 23andMe complied and focused on its ancestry service until it met FDA standards in 2015. The company went public in 2021 with a valuation of over $6 billion but has since struggled with declining sales and privacy breaches.

In 2023, a significant data breach compromised nearly 7 million users’ ancestry data, leading to a $30 million settlement. The company has undergone multiple rounds of layoffs and faced resignations from its board of independent directors, who disagreed with the business strategy.

In March 2025, 23andMe filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, aiming to sell the company while it continues to operate. Wojcicki resigned as CEO but will remain on the board, expressing her intention to bid for the company independently. CFO Joe Selsavage has taken over as interim CEO.

The company’s mission to help people live longer, healthier lives through genetic information remains unchanged, despite the recent turmoil.