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Gene patenting -- steep cost for health care and patients
May 08, 2007
The 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
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Related Gene Patenting Current Events and Gene Patenting News Articles 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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Who Owns You: The Corporate Gold Rush to Patent Your Genes (Blackwell Public Philosophy Series)
by David Koepsell (Author)
Who Owns You? is a comprehensive exploration of the numerous philosophical and legal problems of gene patenting. Provides the first comprehensive book-length treatment of this subject Develops arguments regarding moral realism, and provides a method of judgment that attempts to be ideologically neutral Calls for public attention and policy changes to end the practice of gene patenting
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Does gene patenting stifle research and growth in Utah's healthcare industry?: An article from: Utah Business
by American Diversified Publishing Company, Inc. (Publisher)
This digital document is an article from Utah Business, published by American Diversified Publishing Company, Inc. on June 1, 2001. The length of the article is 802 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 Details Title: Does gene patenting stifle research and growth in Utah's healthcare industry? Publication: Utah Business (Magazine/Journal) Date: June 1, 2001 Publisher: American Diversified Publishing Company, Inc. Volume: 15 Issue: 6 Page: 18
Distributed by Thomson...
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Life vs. commerce at center of gene-patenting debate.: An article from: San Diego Business Journal
by Bradley J. Fikes (Author)
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 Details Title: Life vs. commerce at center of gene-patenting debate. Author: Bradley J. Fikes Publication: San Diego Business Journal (Magazine/Journal) Date: May 22, 1995 Publisher: CBJ, L.P. Volume: v16 Issue: n21 Page: p1(2)
Distributed by Thomson...
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GENE PATENTING: An entry from Macmillan Reference USA's Encyclopedia of Science and Religion
by KAREN LEBACQZ (Author)
This digital document is an article from Encyclopedia of Science and Religion, brought to you by Gale®, a part of Cengage Learning, a world leader in e-research and educational publishing for libraries, schools and businesses. The length of the article is 1904 words. 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. Addresses the interactions, contradictions, and tensions between science and religion, both historically and in contemporary life. The set examines technologies like in vitro fertilization, cloning, and continuing developments in neurophysiology against the backdrop of deeply-held religious beliefs. In addition, phenomena such as the Church of Scientology are also...
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Does patenting genes change the meaning of life? (Ethical Aspects).: An article from: Physician Executive
by Richard E. Thompson (Author)
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 browser.
Citation Details Title: Does patenting genes change the meaning of life? (Ethical Aspects). Author: Richard E. Thompson Publication: Physician Executive (Refereed) Date: May 1, 2003 Publisher: American College of Physician Executives Volume: 29 Issue: 3 Page: 40(3)
Distributed by Thomson...
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Patenting Genes: An entry from Macmillan Reference USA's Macmillan Reference USA Science Library: Genetics
by Kamrin T. MacKnight (Author)
This digital document is an article from Macmillan Reference USA Science Library: Genetics, brought to you by Gale®, a part of Cengage Learning, a world leader in e-research and educational publishing for libraries, schools and businesses. The length of the article is 978 words. 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. A comprehensive collection of articles on all aspects of genetics, from Mendel to the decoding of the human genome. Explains the workings of genes and chromosomes, genetic diseases, and biotechnology. Covers the ethical, legal, and social issues connected to genetic science and includes coverage of careers in the field.
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Qualms about Patenting Human Genes.: An article from: The Hastings Center Report
by Samantha Stokes (Author)
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 Details Title: Qualms about Patenting Human Genes. Author: Samantha Stokes Publication: The Hastings Center Report (Refereed) Date: January 1, 2001 Publisher: Hastings Center Volume: 31 Issue: 1 Page: 7
Distributed by Thomson...
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Patenting of Human Genes and Living Organisms (Veroffentlichungen Aus der Heidelberger Akademie der Wissens)
by Friedrich Vogel (Editor), Reinhard Grunwald (Editor), R.G. Adler (Editor), F.-K. Beier (Editor), A. Dihle (Editor), D. Ganten (Editor), B. Garthoff (Editor), R. Grunwald (Editor), C. Gugerell (Editor), H. Kräußlich (Editor), P. Lange (Editor), R. Moufang (Editor), B.I. Rowland (Editor), S. Sahai (Editor), A. Saint-Remy (Editor), I. Sela (Editor), J. Straus (Editor)
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 human diseases. Such inventions may even include human genes. The understandable desire to have legal protection in this domain has created new problems - especially from the viewpoint of the law and acquiring patents for these new inventions. These problems are under wide discussion and are often controversial. This volume provides a unique overview of the current problems and opinions in this...
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Genes and Ingenuity: Gene Patenting and Human Health Report
by Australian Law Reform Commission (Other Contributor)
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Patenting Genes: An Analysis of the Interaction Between Law and Industry in Policy Formation (Bournemouth Papers on Intellectual Property)
by Juliet Scullion (Author), Martin Kretschmer (Editor), Ruth Soetendorp (Editor)
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