The EU Commission prohibits the acquisition of a genetic analysis provider by a cancer detection healthcare company (Illumina / Grail)

On 6 September 2022, the European Commission (the Commission ) prohibited the acquisition of cancer detection test start-up Grail by genetic and genomic analysis firm Illumina (see, attached Commission press releases). This decision formed the dramatic culmination of a procedure which the Commission had started on 19 April 2021 at the request of France, which was later joined by Belgium, Greece, The Netherlands and European Economic Area countries Iceland and Norway (see, Van Bael & Bellis Life Sciences News and Insights of 22 April 2021). The Commission considered to have that ability pursuant to Article 22 of the EU