23andMe’s Genetic Data Trove Rests on Professor as Protector (1)

A crucial step in handling the sale of genetic data from over 15 million 23andMe customers now rests largely in the hands of a law professor.

The May 19 announcement that Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc. will buy most of the assets of the bankrupt genetic testing provider started a countdown for Washington University School of Law professor Neil Richards, the court-appointed privacy ombudsman, to investigate the company’s privacy policies.

In a report due before June 10, he’ll recommend to the judge whether—and how—the sale of data should take place, highlight any necessary changes to mitigate consumer harm, and evaluate Regeneron’s ...