FTC Orders Illumina to Divest Cancer Detection Test Maker Grail

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) on Monday ordered Illumina to divest cancer diagnostic test maker Grail, finding that its ownership would stifle competition in the U.S. market for cancer tests. Illumina said it would appeal the decision, and will seek expedited consideration from an appeals court. The company said the FTC order to unwind the deal would be automatically put on hold. Judge Michael Chappell, an administrative law judge at the agency, ruled last year that the $7.1 billion acquisition of Grail would not hurt competition. The FTC staff appealed the decision to agency leadership. The…