Bilirakis Files Amicus Brief for Illumina Cancer Research Firm

Cancer research firms Illumina, Inc. and Grail, Inc. partnered to develop a multi-cancer detection test currently blocked by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) out of antitrust concerns. Representative Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) recently filed an amicus curiae brief to the Fifth Circuit Court demanding the removal of the FTC's block.

According to the FTC, Illumina's partnership with Grail would stifle competition and innovation in developing early cancer detection technology. The reason given is that Illumina is the chief supplier of next-generation sequencing (NGS) platforms used to study DNA. As such, Illumina could easily dominate its competition through its partnership with Grail.

On the other hand, Rep. Bilirakis did not see it that way, citing the block as another example of the Biden Administration's bureaucratic overreach.

In his press release, Rep. Bilirakis called the FTC's block "unconscionable" and accused Chairwoman Khan of "expanding the scope and power of her agency in ways Congress never intended."

"It is unconscionable that Biden bureaucrats are thwarting potentially life-saving access to cancer tests that could increase early disease detection. In this latest case of Biden Administration overregulation, Chair Khan is expanding the scope and power of her agency in ways Congress never intended. Her relentless pursuit of an ideological and radical political agenda is having very real-life consequences for millions of American patients who could be benefitting from these tests and she must be stopped. My colleagues and I will continue to push back against this abuse of power and seek to rein in executive overreach," said Bilirakis.

Notably, the block was initially dismissed by an FTC judge in 2022, though leadership ultimately overruled the dismissal. As such, Bilirakis' amicus brief alleges the FTC overstepped its boundaries put in place by the Clayton Act of 1914.

The amicus brief comes hot on the heels of Representative Kat Cammack's (R-FL) REINS Act passing the House, which Bilirakis voted in favor of.

"Biden has abused his power by circumventing Congress to push his radical agenda thru Executive Order-costing more than $200 billion in his first year alone. We passed the REINS Act to require Congressional approval of costly rules prior to implementation," Bilirakis said on Twitter.