Divided appeals court rules human genes are patentable, protecting biotech profit instead of patient health

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Contact: Kelly Trout, 202-222-0722, [email protected]; Nick Berning, 202-222-0748, [email protected]

WASHINGTON, D.C. — In a 2-1 decision, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit ruled late Friday that two human genes correlated with increased risk for breast cancer are patentable.

Reversing a decision from a lower court, the Court of Appeals held in Association for Molecular Pathology, et al. v. US Patent and Trademark Office.  that isolated, naturally occurring genes and DNA sequences are patentable, siding with the company Myriad Genetics that owns these patents on the BRCA1//2 genes. The court did support the lower court’s decision that patents on comparisons of two DNA sequences are invalid.

Friends of the Earth’s biotechnology policy campaigner, Eric Hoffman, responded:

“The Court held that corporations and private interests can patent human genes. We agree with the dissenting opinion, which held that genes, whether found in the body or isolated, are facts of nature and are therefore not patentable. Just as you cannot patent gold simply by removing it from a mine, Myriad’s  isolation of a gene from the human body does not make it an invention.

“Despite the fact that genetic material has evolved over millennia, 20 percent of the human genome is already patented as are thousands of plant, animal, bacteria and viral DNA sequences.  As we’ve seen with Myriad’s gene patents, private ownership of genetic material limits patients’ access to life-saving tests, prevents patients from receiving second opinions and prevents researchers from developing more effective and affordable tests. It is disappointing to see the Court side with the biotechnology industry and its shareholders, instead of the health and wellbeing of patients.”

Friends of the Earth has filed an amicus brief en el caso.

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Amigos de la Tierra lucha por defender el medio ambiente y crear un mundo más sano y justo. Nuestras campañas se centran en promover la energía limpia y las soluciones al cambio climático, mantener las tecnologías tóxicas y peligrosas fuera de los alimentos que consumimos y los productos que utilizamos, y proteger los ecosistemas marinos y a las personas que viven y trabajan cerca de ellos.