CAP Joins Landmark Lawsuit Challenging Legality of Myriad Genetics Gen... ( The College ...)

CAP Joins Landmark Lawsuit Challenging Legality of Myriad Genetics Gene Patents

Date:5/13/2009

The College of American Pathologists today joined a lawsuit against the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and Myriad Genetics, challenging the legality of Myriad's patents for the genes known as BRCA1 and BRCA2, which are indicators for hereditary predisposition to breast and ovarian cancer.

Washington, D.C. (Vocus) May 13, 2009 -- The College of American Pathologists today joined a lawsuit (United States District Court for the Southern District of New York 1:09-CV-4515) against the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and Myriad Genetics, challenging the legality of Myriad's patents for the genes known as BRCA1 and BRCA2, which are indicators for hereditary predisposition to breast and ovarian cancer.

According to CAP, as a result of these patents, patients have been adversely affected because Myriad restricts most laboratories from providing full gene testing, requiring patients and their physicians to rely solely on Myriad to provide the test.

"As medical specialists in the diagnosis of disease, pathologists have a keen interest in ensuring that gene patents do not restrict the ability of physicians to provide quality diagnostic services to the patients they serve," said CAP spokesperson, Dr. Jeffrey A. Kant MD PhD, immediate past Chair of CAP/ACMG Biochemical and Molecular Genetics Resource Committee and Professor of Pathology and Human Genetics at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.

"When patents are granted, a single-lab only is authorized to do the test unless the test is licensed to other labs. In these cases, high licensing fees can be so prohibitive they prevent physicians and other laboratories from providing diagnostic services or developing improved tests," Kant said.

The complaint cites specific cases where pat
'/>"/>

0

GOOD

Page: 1 2
Related medicine news :

1. AAHSA Joins Sixty Aging and Disability Groups to Fight for Long-Term Services and Supports in Health Care Reform
2. ACMG Joins Lawsuit Challenging Patents on Breast Cancer Genes; Genes Are Naturally Occurring Substances and Should Not Be Patented, Says American College of Medical Genetics
3. FDA Award Winner Joins CanRegs US Team
4. Ann Marie DeMatteo Joins CME LLC as Vice President of Educational Initiatives, Drives Innovative Programming Approaches
5. Siemens Joins the Hearing Industries Association on Capitol Hill to Promote the Hearing Aid Tax Credit Act
6. MultiVu Video Feed: REESE WITHERSPOON JOINS AVON FOUNDATION FOR WOMEN AND SAN FRANCISCO GENERAL HOSPITAL TO CELEBRATE 5TH ANNIVERSARY OF AVON COMPREHENSIVE BREAST CENTER
7. Video: Reese Witherspoon Joins Avon Foundation for Women and San Francisco General Hospital to Celebrate 5th Anniversary of Avon Comprehensive Breast Center
8. Harris Joins City of Chicago in Support of Maintaining Good Health Habits
9. The Quantum Group Joins Executive Committee of the Patient-Centered Primary Care Collaborative
10. Vivek Y. Reddy, M.D., Joins The Mount Sinai Medical Center as Director of Electrophysiology Laboratories
11. Ned Milenkovich Joins McDonald Hopkins Law Firm as a Member in Chicago Office

Post Your Comments:

CAP Joins Landmark Lawsuit Challenging Legality of Myriad Genetics Gen...( The College ...),Health