Aggregated News
Almost immediately after the Supreme Court ruled that human genes could not be patented, several laboratories announced they, too, would begin offering genetic testing for breast cancer risk, making it likely that that test and others could become more affordable and more widely available.
The ruling in effect ends a nearly two-decade monopoly by Myriad Genetics, the company at the center of the case.
“It levels the playing field; we can all go out and compete,” said Sherri Bale, managing director of GeneDx, a testing company, which plans to offer a test for breast cancer risk. “This is going to make a lot more genetic tests available, especially for rare diseases.”
Just how many other tests are affected is a bit unclear. Experts say there are not that many tests offered exclusively by one company because of patents.
But some other patents, like those on bacterial genes that might be useful in producing enzymes or biofuel, might also now be in jeopardy.
Still, biotechnology industry officials and patent lawyers said on Thursday that the decision should have little effect on...
The ruling in effect ends a nearly two-decade monopoly by Myriad Genetics, the company at the center of the case.
“It levels the playing field; we can all go out and compete,” said Sherri Bale, managing director of GeneDx, a testing company, which plans to offer a test for breast cancer risk. “This is going to make a lot more genetic tests available, especially for rare diseases.”
Just how many other tests are affected is a bit unclear. Experts say there are not that many tests offered exclusively by one company because of patents.
But some other patents, like those on bacterial genes that might be useful in producing enzymes or biofuel, might also now be in jeopardy.
Still, biotechnology industry officials and patent lawyers said on Thursday that the decision should have little effect on...