Illumina Says Grail Deal Won’t Hold Back New Cancer Tests (1)

Illumina Inc.’s lawyers said that its takeover of cancer detection upstart Grail Inc. would not hamper competition in the nascent field of early-stage testing, as the gene sequencing giant sought to overcome a US antitrust challenge.

In closing trial arguments Wednesday in a suit brought by the Federal Trade Commission, government attorneys said the acquisition threatens to slow progress toward earlier cancer diagnosis, as Grail’s rivals also rely on Illumina’s sequencing services.

“Illumina will have the power to pick the winners and the losers,” an FTC attorney said.

With its already wide sway in the DNA sequencing industry, ...