Breast Cancer Action Wins: SCOTUS Overturns Human Gene Patents
Breast Cancer Action Wins: SCOTUS Overturns Human Gene Patents
SAN FRANCISCO, CA–Breast Cancer Action (BCAction), the respected
watchdog of the breast cancer movement, celebrates a landmark victory at
the Supreme Court with today’s ruling that patents on DNA are invalid.
BCAction joined genetic counselors, researchers, and individual patients
in this historic case challenging bio-tech giant Myriad Genetics’
patents on the BRCA1 &2 genes, commonly referred to as the “breast
cancer genes.” The case, first filed in 2009, was argued before the
Court by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) in April.
With today’s ruling, BCAction has won a watershed health victory for
women. BCAction Executive Director Karuna Jaggar, called the ruling “a
tremendous victory for women with a known or suspected inherited risk of
breast cancer. Breast Cancer Action, our members and supporters have
experienced firsthand the harms of Myriad’s monopoly on the BRCA genes.
Today, the Court righted a wrong and has put patients’ health before
corporate profits.”
“The importance of this ruling is far-reaching for breast cancer and
for all of us who care about corporate control of our genes. In the
fast-paced, ever-changing landscape of cancer research, access to
genomic information is vital,” Jaggar stated.
“One of the single greatest barriers to breast cancer research,
improved testing, new diagnostic tools and targeted therapies related to
the BRCA genes was today struck down,” said Jaggar. “Women will now
have access to new tests, at lower cost, and will be able for the first
time to get second opinions.”
While the Court ruled that genetic DNA is not patentable, the finding
that complementary DNA (“cDNA”) may be patentable does not diminish the
impact for patients. Laboratories can conduct genetic testing without
using cDNA and this means that Myriad no longer holds a monopoly on the
BRCA genes and all naturally occurring variations and mutations of these
human genes.
Myriad’s patents on the BRCA genes gave them exclusive rights to
genetic testing to determine increased risk of developing breast and
ovarian cancer, as well as some other cancers. “This ruling ends
Myriad’s monopoly,” Jaggar stated.
Breast Cancer Action has a strong reputation for effective corporate
campaigns. Jaggar stated: “Today’s ruling puts corporations on notice.
Breast Cancer Action has always worked to shift the balance of power
from corporate profits to public health. We work to meet the needs of
women living with and at risk of breast cancer and this decision does
just that: both for women today and for future generations of women.”
###
Breast Cancer Action (www.bcaction.org) is a national non-profit
education and advocacy organization refuses to accept corporate funding
from companies or organizations that profit from or contribute to the
breast cancer epidemic.
– See more at:
http://www.bcaction.org/2013/06/13/breast-cancer-action-wins-scotus-overturns-human-gene-patents/#sthash.tfBHsm0d.dpuf
Breast Cancer Action Wins: SCOTUS Overturns Human Gene Patents
SAN FRANCISCO, CA–Breast Cancer Action (BCAction), the respected
watchdog of the breast cancer movement, celebrates a landmark victory at
the Supreme Court with today’s ruling that patents on DNA are invalid.
BCAction joined genetic counselors, researchers, and individual patients
in this historic case challenging bio-tech giant Myriad Genetics’
patents on the BRCA1 &2 genes, commonly referred to as the “breast
cancer genes.” The case, first filed in 2009, was argued before the
Court by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) in April.
With today’s ruling, BCAction has won a watershed health victory for
women. BCAction Executive Director Karuna Jaggar, called the ruling “a
tremendous victory for women with a known or suspected inherited risk of
breast cancer. Breast Cancer Action, our members and supporters have
experienced firsthand the harms of Myriad’s monopoly on the BRCA genes.
Today, the Court righted a wrong and has put patients’ health before
corporate profits.”
“The importance of this ruling is far-reaching for breast cancer and
for all of us who care about corporate control of our genes. In the
fast-paced, ever-changing landscape of cancer research, access to
genomic information is vital,” Jaggar stated.
“One of the single greatest barriers to breast cancer research,
improved testing, new diagnostic tools and targeted therapies related to
the BRCA genes was today struck down,” said Jaggar. “Women will now
have access to new tests, at lower cost, and will be able for the first
time to get second opinions.”
While the Court ruled that genetic DNA is not patentable, the finding
that complementary DNA (“cDNA”) may be patentable does not diminish the
impact for patients. Laboratories can conduct genetic testing without
using cDNA and this means that Myriad no longer holds a monopoly on the
BRCA genes and all naturally occurring variations and mutations of these
human genes.
Myriad’s patents on the BRCA genes gave them exclusive rights to
genetic testing to determine increased risk of developing breast and
ovarian cancer, as well as some other cancers. “This ruling ends
Myriad’s monopoly,” Jaggar stated.
Breast Cancer Action has a strong reputation for effective corporate
campaigns. Jaggar stated: “Today’s ruling puts corporations on notice.
Breast Cancer Action has always worked to shift the balance of power
from corporate profits to public health. We work to meet the needs of
women living with and at risk of breast cancer and this decision does
just that: both for women today and for future generations of women.”
###
Breast Cancer Action (www.bcaction.org) is a national non-profit
education and advocacy organization refuses to accept corporate funding
from companies or organizations that profit from or contribute to the
breast cancer epidemic.
– See more at:
http://www.bcaction.org/2013/06/13/breast-cancer-action-wins-scotus-overturns-human-gene-patents/#sthash.tfBHsm0d.dpuf
Breast Cancer Action Wins: SCOTUS Overturns Human Gene Patents
SAN FRANCISCO, CA–Breast Cancer Action (BCAction), the respected
watchdog of the breast cancer movement, celebrates a landmark victory at
the Supreme Court with today’s ruling that patents on DNA are invalid.
BCAction joined genetic counselors, researchers, and individual patients
in this historic case challenging bio-tech giant Myriad Genetics’
patents on the BRCA1 &2 genes, commonly referred to as the “breast
cancer genes.” The case, first filed in 2009, was argued before the
Court by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) in April.
With today’s ruling, BCAction has won a watershed health victory for
women. BCAction Executive Director Karuna Jaggar, called the ruling “a
tremendous victory for women with a known or suspected inherited risk of
breast cancer. Breast Cancer Action, our members and supporters have
experienced firsthand the harms of Myriad’s monopoly on the BRCA genes.
Today, the Court righted a wrong and has put patients’ health before
corporate profits.”
“The importance of this ruling is far-reaching for breast cancer and
for all of us who care about corporate control of our genes. In the
fast-paced, ever-changing landscape of cancer research, access to
genomic information is vital,” Jaggar stated.
“One of the single greatest barriers to breast cancer research,
improved testing, new diagnostic tools and targeted therapies related to
the BRCA genes was today struck down,” said Jaggar. “Women will now
have access to new tests, at lower cost, and will be able for the first
time to get second opinions.”
While the Court ruled that genetic DNA is not patentable, the finding
that complementary DNA (“cDNA”) may be patentable does not diminish the
impact for patients. Laboratories can conduct genetic testing without
using cDNA and this means that Myriad no longer holds a monopoly on the
BRCA genes and all naturally occurring variations and mutations of these
human genes.
Myriad’s patents on the BRCA genes gave them exclusive rights to
genetic testing to determine increased risk of developing breast and
ovarian cancer, as well as some other cancers. “This ruling ends
Myriad’s monopoly,” Jaggar stated.
Breast Cancer Action has a strong reputation for effective corporate
campaigns. Jaggar stated: “Today’s ruling puts corporations on notice.
Breast Cancer Action has always worked to shift the balance of power
from corporate profits to public health. We work to meet the needs of
women living with and at risk of breast cancer and this decision does
just that: both for women today and for future generations of women.”
###
Breast Cancer Action (www.bcaction.org) is a national non-profit
education and advocacy organization refuses to accept corporate funding
from companies or organizations that profit from or contribute to the
breast cancer epidemic.
– See more at:
http://www.bcaction.org/2013/06/13/breast-cancer-action-wins-scotus-overturns-human-gene-patents/#sthash.tfBHsm0d.dpuf
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