Competition in human genetic technologies: The current US legal landscape.

Abdulai I Rashid, Nicole A Rincon, Nathan Rihani, Jennifer K Wagner

Abstract readReview

In one paragraph

Review in American journal of human genetics, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it

0cells of the map it votes in

0citing papers in PubMed

–field-weighted citation impact

1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors.

Abdulai I RashidBrooks Kushman, Royal Oak, MI 48067, USA.

Nicole A RinconScura, Wigfield, Heyer, Stevens, & Cammarota, LLP, Secaucus, NJ 07094, USA.

Nathan RihaniSchool of Engineering Design and Innovation, Penn State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA.

Jennifer K WagnerSchool of Engineering Design and Innovation, Penn State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA; Department of Anthropology, Penn State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, Penn State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA; Penn State Dickinson Law, University Park, PA 16802, USA; Institute for Computational and Data Sciences, Penn State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA; Huck Institute of the Life Sciences, Penn State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA; Rock Ethics Institute, Penn State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA; Social Science Research Institute, Penn State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA. Electronic address: jkw131@psu.edu.

Funding

Consumer Protections for Genomics and Precision HealthR01HG011051 · NHGRI · PENNSYLVANIA STATE UNIVERSITY, THE · PI WAGNER, JENNIFER KRISTIN · 2020 to 2021

$784k

Bioethical, Legal, and Anthropological Study of Technologies (BLAST)R21EB035474 · NIBIB · PENNSYLVANIA STATE UNIVERSITY, THE · PI WAGNER, JENNIFER KRISTIN · 2023 to 2024

$441k

NHGRI NIH HHS R01 HG011051NIBIB NIH HHS R21 EB035474

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Competition plays a crucial role in driving innovation in the industry of human genetics and genomics technologies. However, the US's policy on competition (such as enforcement of antitrust laws) has shifted over time, affecting the level of regulatory scrutiny that business decisions in the industry will receive. Here, we offer an overview of this changing legal landscape, noting key policy changes at the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and Department of Justice (DOJ) relevant to the human genetics and genomics industry. Focusing on the regulatory challenge of Illumina's acquisition of Grail as a case study, we highlight how shifting anti-competition enforcement policy could affect spin-offs, startups, and industry consolidations. Balancing competition and consumer protection policies remains essential for the continued advancement of human genetic and genomic technologies. We offer this perspective in the hopes that it will help inform scientists in the field of the relevant legal considerations and stimulate discussions to shape policy-public and private alike-in ways that promote responsible innovation in genetic and genomic science and technology.

Indexed as

Economic CompetitionGenomicsHuman GeneticsHumansUnited Statesantitrust lawconsumer protectionELSIFederal Trade Commissionhuman geneticsinnovation

Identifiers

PMID41570817

DOI10.1016/j.ajhg.2025.12.012

PMCPMC12914580

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata

LicenceCC BY

Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.