A New York judge invalidated several of Myriad Genetics' breast cancer gene patents this week in a widely watched summary judgment ruling(pdf). Much has been said about the ruling, which has evoked extremely strong reactions (both positive and negative) from every single person I've discussed it with this week. However, I want to share several items that I found (on the web, on the radio, and on TV) to be particularly illuminating.
I've certainly been amply exposed to both perspectives in this case, having worked with many individuals belonging to organizations who are plaintiffs in the case and also having taken care of many women pursuing BRCA1 and BRCA2 testing in the clinic as a clinical cancer geneticist, in addition to having worked in the molecular diagnostics industry. I'll have more to say on the issue, but for now, I want to share the following useful links:
1. A PBS NewsHour segment that includes a discussion with Daniel Ravicher, who is a patent lawyer and Executive Director of the Public Patent Foundation (part of the broad coalition of plaintiffs) and Ken Chahine, who is a patent attorney, a visiting professor of law at the University of Utah, and a former biotech CEO (who submitted an amicus brief on behalf of Myriad Genetics in the case):
2. A NPR Science Friday piece has Ira Flatow interviewing Robert Cook-Deegan, MD (Director, Center for Genome Ethics,Institute for Genome Sciences and Policy, Duke University): click here to access the podcast and a transcript.
3. Dan Vorhaus, a lawyer at Robinson Bradshaw & Hinson, writing in Genomics Law Report has a series of quite useful posts with lots of analysis:
- Breaking: District Court Rules Myriad Breast Cancer Patents Invalid
- Pigs Fly: Federal Court Invalidates Myriad's Patent Claims
- More Myriad: Moving Beyond Single Gene Patents
I hope that you find these useful. I'd love to hear what you think about the ruling in the comments!
Update
For those interested in a not so serious take on the issue, check out Stephen Colbert's clip on the Myriad Genetics' breast cancer gene patents ruling on the Colbert Report here.
Update #2 (April 26, 2010)
We have a new post mentioning an upcoming Genetic Alliance webinar on April 30 that will feature a moderated discussion involving parties supporting either side in the Myriad breast cancer gene patent controversy. The webinar should be worth your time if you'd like to better understand the perspective of either side in this lawsuit.
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