Gene Patents in the News
Erika Check, “Firm sets sights on gene silencing to protect
vision,” 430 Nature 819, August 19, 2004. The
RNA interference technology being tested by Acuity Pharmaceuticals
of Philadelphia
is up for approval before the U.S. FDA to be used on humans
for blindness. Up until now it has never been used on humans.
However there is some debate on who will have patents on the
technology as Acuity has applied for the patent on the RNA
molecule and a rival firm, Alnylam (Cambridge, Massachusetts)
has applied for a patent on the method of delivery.
Stacy Lawrence, “Patent Drop Reveals Pressures on Industry,” 22 Nature
Biotechnology 930-931, July 27, 2004. Discusses how
the ‘Completion of the Human Genome Project and pressure
for clearer applications have cut the number of U.S. biotech
patents.’ She discuses, however, the prediction that
this trend could turn in the near future. Full
article.
European Patent Office Press Release, "Myriad/Breast
Cancer” Patent
Revoked After Public Hearing," EPO website.
The European Patent
Office (EPO) has revoked the European patent of a U.S. biotechnology
company,
Myriad
Genetics,
on
a breast
and ovarian cancer genetic test. Full
article.
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