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Regeneron Acquires 23andMe in Bankruptcy Auction for $256 Million

Regeneron Pharmaceuticals has strategically acquired 23andMe, a genetic testing company, in a bankruptcy auction for $256 million. The purchase aims to blend pharmaceutical expertise with genetic insights, unlocking a new chapter for scientific exploration.

Regeneron has pledged to adhere to 23andMe’s stringent privacy policies concerning customer data, presenting their intentions to a court-appointed overseer.

The bankruptcy filing in March had raised concerns among lawmakers regarding the privacy of genetic information belonging to over 15 million customers. In response, 23andMe consented to oversight of its data management practices.

Despite the data breach in 2023 and declining demand for their testing kits, 23andMe’s integration into Regeneron aims to drive innovation. Excluding Lemonaid Health, all 23andMe units will merge with Regeneron to continue as an autonomous entity.

A New Twitter-Inspired Social Network Is Taking Shape

A new social network called Twitter.now is entering the market, with a founding team that includes former Twitter trademark counsel Stephen Coates. The service is being developed by startup Operation Bluebird.

As Ars Technica reported, X sued the company last year and asked a Delaware judge to block the launch. Operation Bluebird argued in a petition that X had abandoned trademarks including “Twitter” and “Tweet.”

Coates has said the project is not an attempt to recreate the original Twitter. In a LinkedIn post, he described the platform as a new public space focused on trust, transparency and user choice.

AI System To Rate Posts

Twitter.now is currently being tested, with early access priced at $20. Its main feature is VERA, an AI system designed to evaluate posts, verify claims and provide sources and context.

Posts receive a trust score, with users eventually able to set a minimum score to filter their feeds. The company says this approach will give people more control over what they see instead of leaving those decisions entirely to an algorithm.

Moderation Remains A Challenge

Scaling moderation will be one of the platform’s biggest tests. Social networks have repeatedly struggled with content moderation as their communities grow, and newer platforms such as Bluesky have faced similar criticism.

Operation Bluebird says VERA will form the basis of its moderation and verification system. A second version is already planned, with expanded tools that would let users set a specific trust threshold for the posts appearing in their feeds.

For now, Twitter.now remains in an early testing phase, combining the familiarity of the Twitter name with an AI-driven approach to evaluating online information.

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