The Silicon Valley-based company, which went public in 2021, claims 15 million customers but its sales declined in recent months as the testing craze faded and the company suffered a data breach.

The company announced the dismissal of 40 per cent of its staff in November, about 200 people. It also suspended its research programs.

23andMe CEO Anne Wojcicki said she intends to be a bid on the company independently. Source: AAP / Jeff Chiu/AP

In a regulatory filing, 23andMe also said that it has agreed to pay approximately US$37.5 million ($59.6 million) to settle claims related to the 2023 data breach.

Using customers’ old passwords, the hackers compromised data that included names, sex, birth year, location, photos, health information, and genetic ancestry results.

‘Time to delete’

“Given 23andMe’s reported financial distress, I remind Californians to consider invoking their rights and directing 23andMe to delete their data and destroy any samples of genetic material held by the company,” Bonta said in a statement.

The company’s share price was down by nearly 50 per cent to 92 cents in Monday trading on Wall Street.