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Gene patenting -- steep cost for health care and patients
May 08, 2007The drug trastuzumab (Herceptin) is used to treat HER2-positive breast cancer (a type of breast cancer that overexpresses the HER2 gene and accounts for about 25% of all breast cancers). Trastuzumab therapy improves the chances of survival; however, it has deleterious side effects and is expensive. Thus, it is important to accurately determine the patient's HER2 status. The challenge is to develop a testing strategy that is both accurate and economical. A false-negative test result can mean a woman will not receive a life-prolonging drug, and a false-positive result can lead to unnecessary, expensive drug treatment.
In this systematic review, Dendukuri and colleagues compared the cost-effectiveness of 7 strategies (based on a combination of 2 tests) to diagnose HER2 status. They found that the most cost-effective strategy is to screen all women who have newly diagnosed breast cancer with immunohistochemistry and to confirm ambiguous or positive test scores with fluorescence in situ hybridization.
In a related commentary, Brian Goldman notes that the example of trastuzumab and the HER2 gene illustrates both the promise and the perils of gene patenting. Even though genes occur naturally in humans, it is the person who discovers a gene who usually holds the patent for it.
Any researcher or pharmaceutical company who wants to investigate or develop treatments based on that gene must obtain permission from the patent holder. Even testing for mutations in patented genes (e.g., BRCA1 and BRCA2) can be restricted by the patent holder.
Canadian Medical Association Journal
Any researcher or pharmaceutical company who wants to investigate or develop treatments based on that gene must obtain permission from the patent holder. Even testing for mutations in patented genes (e.g., BRCA1 and BRCA2) can be restricted by the patent holder.
Canadian Medical Association Journal
THE LANCET Neurology September Issue PRESS RELEASE
THE GENETICS OF MIGRAINE Migraine is a very common neurological disorder affecting 15% of people from western populations. However, the mechanisms that cause migraine are poorly understood. Studies of families with migraine have identified a number of genetic loci that may have some role in the development of migraine. Anne Ducros (Hopital Lariboisiere, Paris, France) and colleagues review research on the genetics of migraine, the problems with identifying genes involved, and the possible mechanisms by which mutations in genes that encode ion channels may cause the attacks. Gene patenting-diagnosing the problem The US Patent and Trademark Office is currently processing patent applications fo
Nuffield Council on Bioethics urges caution on patenting DNA
Patents involving DNA sequences should be the exception rather than the rule, according to a paper published today (23 July) by the Nuffield Council on Bioethics. The Discussion Paper, The ethics of patenting DNA, recommends a number of significant changes to the way that patents are granted involving DNA sequences. The Discussion Paper, prepared by an international group of experts, proposes an ethical framework for gene patenting with recommendations aimed at policy-makers, courts, patent lawyers and patent offices. "We are concerned that, for patents involving DNA, the patent system is in danger of not achieving its main goal - to stimulate innovation for the public good. We believe
Science & Public Affairs - June 2002
In this month's Science & Public Affairs: corporate funding for research: a good or a bad thing?"¦ the need for a Research and Monitoring Unit within the office of the Government Chief Scientist, to ensure impartiality of new research"¦. EU Framework Programme 6 criticised for being too politicised and lacking in direction Contents: SPATalk - In the public interest? Dr David Packham, University of Bath and Dr Pat Hughes, BT Exact Technologies, spar over corporate funding of university research. Packham is concerned about the need for openness to public scrutiny and the common requirement of universities to accept secrecy clauses that are incompatible with the values of science and ag
Who owns genetic information?
Who owns genetic information?
More Gene Patenting Current Events and Gene Patenting News Articles
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| Life vs. commerce at center of gene-patenting debate.: An article from: San Diego Business Journal by Bradley J. Fikes This digital document is an article from San Diego Business Journal, published by CBJ, L.P. on May 22, 1995. The length of the article is 840 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.Citation DetailsTitle: Life... | |
| The genome project: The ethical issues of gene patenting : hearing before the Subcommittee on Patents, Copyrights, and Trademarks of the Committee on the ... gene patenting, September 22, 1992 (S. hrg) by United States | |
| Does patenting genes change the meaning of life? (Ethical Aspects).: An article from: Physician Executive by Richard E. Thompson This digital document is an article from Physician Executive, published by American College of Physician Executives on May 1, 2003. The length of the article is 2108 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web... | |
| Patenting of Human Genes and Living Organisms (Veroffentlichungen Aus der Heidelberger Akademie der Wissens) Biotechnology is one of the most promising fields of technology, especially since molecular biology methods have enhanced our knowledge of genes, their structure, and their action. This knowledge makes it possible to change genetic material and construct new varieties of cultural plants and animals for various purposes such as nutrition, scientific and medical experimentation, and treatment of... | |
| Qualms about Patenting Human Genes.: An article from: The Hastings Center Report by Samantha Stokes This digital document is an article from The Hastings Center Report, published by Hastings Center on January 1, 2001. The length of the article is 1278 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.Citation... | |
| Patenting Genes: An Analysis of the Interaction Between Law and Industry in Policy Formation (Bournemouth Papers on Intellectual Property S.) by Juliet Scullion | |
| Genes and Ingenuity: Gene Patenting and Human Health Report | |
| The Idea Business: Rules of the Game by Gene W. Arant A book on the rights of intellectual property with the primary focus on patent protection. Chapter titles: Gambling in the Idea Market; Identifying the Family; Establishing Ownership; Protecting the Big Four; Triggering Protection; Profiting from Secrecy; Patenting Inventions; Copyrighting Expressions; Registering Trademarks; Stepping Up the Patent Ladder; Analyzing Patent Claims; Protection in... |
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