Post date: Aug 24, 2016 7:31:31 PM
A Nature article describes a reduction in the number of patents being awarded for personalized medicine directives based on a new rulings. To me, this represents good news - the judicial system is finally catching up to the logic and realizing that such patents would hurt patients. A prime example is the Myriad case where science finally prevailed and the judges threw out the patent on BRCA1/2 mutant gene sequences. A decision which was obvious to anyone with even basic knowledge of genetics as John Oliver clear articulated several years ago while guest hosting the Daily show. Another example given in the article describes patents turned down for a diagnostic test to determine drug dosage. We need to realize that allowing patents for "natural phenomenon and abstract ideas" such as these will throw obstacles on both legitimate research of the associated diseases and the diagnosis and treatment of patients. These patents mean added costs and limited availability and are both unlawful and immoral. I don't believe for a second that denying these patents will hurt the development of personalized medicine approaches.