This month in The Journal

The current biotechnology industry is characterized by intense competition. Although this competition can drive innovation and increased investment, too much competition can prevent collaboration and potentially foster a culture in which data and methods are stockpiled and guarded. The United States Federal Trade Commission (FTC) advances government policies that promote free and open competition and challenges anticompetitive business practices. In this issue, Rashid et al. provide an overview of recent policy changes at the FTC surrounding competition and innovation in human genetics and genomics, using the Illumina and Grail merger in 2021 as a case study.