Illumina wins FTC antitrust case over GRAIL acquisition – WSJ
Georgejason/iStock Editorial via Getty Images

Gene sequencing company Illumina (NASDAQ:ILMN) has won a lawsuit filed by the Federal Trade Commission over its 2021 acquisition of cancer test developer GRAIL, The Wall Street Journal reported Thursday, citing people familiar with the matter.
An administrative law judge has issued a ruling in favor of Illumina, dealing a setback to FTC's efforts to unwind the $7.1B deal over antitrust concerns.
According to ILMN, the judge rejected FTC's stand that the deal would impact the competition in the market for multicancer early detection tests.
"As we've stated from the outset, this transaction is procompetitive, will advance innovation, lower healthcare costs, and save lives," remarked the company's general counsel Charles Dadswell.
Last year, ILMN announced the completion of the GRAIL acquisition despite a legal challenge from the FTC which led to a trial before an administrative law judge in Aug. and Sep. 2021.
"Illumina is committed to working through the ongoing FTC administrative process, and as always, will abide by whatever outcome is ultimately reached in the U.S. courts," the company said at the time.
Recently, EU officials reviewing the ILMN â GRAIL deal threatened to impose a fine of up to 10% of each companies' annual worldwide turnover if the parties are found to have breached antitrust rules with the pre-mature closure of the transaction.