This removes a major barrier to patient care. Until now, the patents for several cancer causing mutations were held by pharmaceutical companies. This ruling means that the pharma companies no longer have a monopoly on the tests for the presence of these genes, allowing competition that will hopefully drive down costs.
More info :http://www.the-scientist.com/?articles.view/articleNo/36011/title/Supreme-Court-Nixes-Patenting-Human-Genes/
... but the Justices also ruled that synthetic DNA sequences—known as complimentary DNA (cDNA)—are eligible for protection ...
ReplyDeleteThe ruling is narrow as expected, but has the potential to have large ramifications on the biotech inds. and medicine. I'd say is better than nothing.
ReplyDeleteCorina Marinescu Yes it's better than nothing but soon the pharma companies are going to find loopholes and exploit them just like they do with other synthetic formulations to prevent them from becoming generic and available to the less affluent. Bringing about regulations in patents has to be an active process.
ReplyDeleteAhmed Faraaz Patel u are aware the global pharmaceutical industry is worth more than $1 trillion, yes? So like I said the ruling is narrow as expected...but has potential. I mean these sharks are ballsy and have some "limitless power"....if they went to the point to try and patent human genes, what's next ?
ReplyDeletePerry J. Greenbaum Imagine discrimination based on genes.....mines are natural, urs?
ReplyDeleteIt's just a matter of time till all this gonna get messy...
ReplyDeleteWhat happens when an organism with a synthetic, patented gene breeds with an organism with all-natural, “open source” genes? Is the offspring’s DNA considered a “derivative work” under copyright law? Are the offspring’s genes non-patentable because the process of creation was natural?
Patenting of human genes is definitely going to happen. It's the next step in the "Evolution" of Pharmaceuticals. And then what will follow is discrimination. It's obvious. We, as humans, will always be in pursuit of what WE believe is better and from that will stem discrimination and unethical practices. There is no stopping this.
ReplyDeleteNice!
ReplyDeleteEsti Romanca ?
ReplyDeleteBoris Hersonski I guess the question is for me, yes? The answer is no, but my mom is :)
ReplyDeleteYes. The question was for you.
ReplyDeletedelving into....
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