The Phantom Menace of Gene Patents?

Some European clinical genetic laboratories still refuse to recognise the legitimacy of genetic testing patents arguing they are difficult to invent around, excessively increase test prices, and hinder innovation. To examine the extent of such impacts we surveyed European labs and found that, in fact, they generally had little experience of dealing with patents and require more support to negotiate the changing patent landscape around them. We suggest they may also need more leeway to pass on any resulting increased costs due to patented tests to public and private health insurers. While w some European clinical genetic laboratories refuse to recognise the legitimacy of such patents arguing they are difficult to invent around, excessively increase test prices, and hinder innovation. To examine the extent of such impacts we surveyed European labs and found that, in fact, they generally had little experience of dealing with patents and require more support to negotiate the changing patent landscape around them. We suggest they may also need more leeway to pass on any resulting increased costs due to patented tests to public and private health insurers.

GAISSER Sibylle;  HOPKINS Michael M.;  LIDDELL Kathleen;  ZIKA Eleni;  IBARRETA RUIZ Dolores; 

2009-03-26

NATURE PUBLISHING GROUP

JRC50984

0028-0836,   

www.nature.com,    https://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/handle/JRC50984,   

10.1038/458407a,