Aggregated News

The American Civil Liberties Union and the Public Patent Foundation have decided to ask the Supreme Court to take up their case challenging Myriad Genetics' patents on the BRCA 1 and BRCA 2 genes.

Even since American Molecular Pathology et al. v. US Patent and Trademark Office et al. first came before a New York federal district court in late 2009, legal experts have predicted that the case, which could have a broad impact on the patentability of genes, would eventually go the Supreme Court.

This week, ACLU and PUBPAT proved those predictions right by announcing that they will petition the high court following the Federal Circuit Court of Appeals' decision not to rehear the case. The Supreme Court may decide to hear the case, or it may instruct the Court of Appeals to reconsider its decision, which it issued in August.

Myriad spokesperson Rebecca Chambers told PGx Reporter that the company is still considering its options in terms of next steps. "We have not made a public statement regarding our intent to petition the Supreme Court," Chambers said. "We...