NEW YORK (GenomeWeb News) – California consumer genomics company 23andMe has confirmed that it has laid off some of its workers as part of an effort to maintain competitiveness and respond to a weak economy, the company said.
The firm did not say how many positions have been cut or what parts of the company were hit by the layoffs.
"We have reduced our staffing levels in a restructuring of our workforce," the company said in a statement. "This was a very difficult decision, but one that we felt was necessary to achieve 23andMe's long-term business development goals and maintain our strength in the industry.
"These cuts, which are a reflection of the current economic environment all companies are facing, will allow us to continue to invest in the growth of our Personal Genome Service and research endeavors," 23andMe said.
In June, the firm received a $2.6 million Series B investment from Google, which helped to back the company's 2007 launch with $3.9 million in Series A funding. The firm also has received financing from Google Co-founder, Sergey Brin, who is married to 23andMe Co-founder Anne Wojcicki.