GenomeWeb reports on the HHS Advisory groups proposal to “limit the ability of holders of gene patents to keep others from using those genes for diagnostic and research purposes.” The GLR recaps the evolution of the debate and the sponsors an interesting dialog in a recent post Up Next in Gene Patents: Waiting for a Ruling (Again) and SACGHS Meets (Again).
Gene patents were also a hot topic at the Molecular Medicine Tri-Conference last week in San Francisco. One of the talks “Gene Patents in Molecular Diagnostics: Valuable Assets or Impediments?”. The speaker, Frances Toneguzzo, Ph.D., Director of Corporate Research and Licensing at MGH brought up an interesting perspective. She discussed the idea that limiting patents on genes is a slippery slope since other forms of biomarker patents, such as “image biomarkers” could be eliminated from patent protection.
