Illumina/GRAIL: A Short Note on the European Commission’s Order to Unwind the Deal

Abstract

A short note on the Commission’s decision to unwind Illumina’s acquisition of GRAIL.

The decision is the denouement – literally and figuratively – of the long saga triggered by Illumina’s attempt to acquire GRAIL. The European Commission ordered Illumina to unwind its acquisition of GRAIL, one of several companies engaged in an innovation race to develop a multi-cancer early detection test, the “holy grail” (hence the company’s name) of cancer research.

Decision commented: Case M. 10939 - Illumina / GRAIL (Restorative measures under Article 8(4)a), Decision of 12 October 2023

Keywords: antitrust law, competition law, merger control

JEL Classification: K21