23andMe has been quietly exploring a possible sale of its telehealth business, Lemonaid

Company Overview - 23andMe, a genetic testing company founded in 2006, initially gained consumer interest with ancestry-focused genetic testing kits and later expanded to health risk assessments in 2017 [2] - The company went public in June 2021 at $11.13 per share and acquired virtual care startup Lemonaid Health for $400 million in cash and stock later that year [3][4] - 23andMe's valuation has significantly declined from $3.5 billion at IPO to approximately $91 million as of January 2024 [4] Financial and Operational Challenges - The company's stock price has plummeted due to a 2023 data breach affecting nearly 7 million users, leading to a $30 million class action lawsuit settlement [3][5][6] - In response to financial struggles, 23andMe cut 40% of its workforce (approximately 200 employees) in November 2023 and discontinued its drug discovery efforts [3] - To avoid delisting from Nasdaq, the company executed a reverse stock split in October 2023, exchanging every 20 shares for one share [4] Strategic Developments - 23andMe is exploring the potential sale of its telehealth business, Lemonaid Health, which it acquired in 2021 [1][9] - CEO Anne Wojcicki proposed taking the company private in July 2024, but the bid was rejected by a special committee of the board of directors [7] - Following the rejection, Wojcicki expressed openness to a third-party takeover in September 2024, but later retracted the statement, reaffirming her intention to take the company private [7][8] Data Breach Impact - The 2023 data breach exposed sensitive user information, including names and birth details, which were subsequently sold on the dark web [5] - The company took five months to detect the breach, leading to significant reputational damage and legal consequences [6]