US Court Overturns FTC's Ruling on Illumina's Acquisition of Grail

A U.S. appeals court has struck down a Federal Trade Commission (FTC) order against Illumina's acquisition of cancer diagnostic test maker Grail, stating that the agency applied the wrong legal standard. The court's decision requires the FTC to reconsider the deal. While the panel acknowledged the FTC's evidence of potential competition reduction, it also noted that the agency failed to properly consider Illumina's commitment to continue selling its DNA sequencing services to other firms. Illumina had argued that the FTC unconstitutionally exercised its powers, but the court rejected this claim. The FTC sees the decision as a victory for antitrust enforcement, while Illumina is reviewing the ruling.