Illumina Inc.’s lawyers said that its takeover of cancer detection upstart Grail Inc. would not hamper competition in the nascent field of early-stage testing, as the gene sequencing giant sought to overcome a US antitrust challenge.
In closing trial arguments Wednesday in a suit brought by the Federal Trade Commission, government attorneys said the acquisition threatens to slow progress toward earlier cancer diagnosis, as Grail’s rivals also rely on Illumina’s sequencing services.
