23andMe Layoff — January 2025

23andMe announced a major restructuring that will cut 40% of its workforce — described as "over 200 employees" — and eliminate its therapy programs including cancer-treatment research. The company plans to wind down clinical trials, explore licensing and asset sales of therapeutic programs, and refocus on its core direct-to-consumer genetic testing and data sales to pharma. CEO Anne Wojcicki framed the reductions as necessary to stabilize the business amid declining demand for DNA kits, a prior large data breach, failed SPAC-era momentum, board resignations, and doubts about the company’s ability to continue. The restructuring is expected to save about $35 million annually as 23andMe tightens its focus and reduces its research footprint.

23andMe disclosed this layoff in an official WARN (Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification) notice recorded by the CA state workforce agency on November 19, 2024. The notice covers 153 employees in Sunnyvale, CA (Santa Clara County), with the layoff effective January 10, 2025.

The state lists each affected employee separately by work location, so this filing spans 2 CA communities: South San Francisco, Sunnyvale.

That is roughly 13.9% of the 1,100 people 23andMe employs.

LayoffTalk has tracked 2 layoff events at 23andMe since January 2025, including 403 jobs documented in official WARN filings.