US judge strikes down patent on cancer genes

[EpyonXero]

Originally Posted by tommymac

I think its like when a drug company has a patent on a drug thye set the price for it. If biotech firm can patent a speciffic gene that causes cancer then they can set the market price for tests/tumor markers they may develop and any future treatments.

Yeah. Also, our patent system is so messed up that there are plenty of things with patents on them now which probably wouldnt hold up if they were challenged in court.

[Homeslice]

Originally Posted by tommymac

I think its like when a drug company has a patent on a drug thye set the price for it. If biotech firm can patent a speciffic gene that causes cancer then they can set the market price for tests/tumor markers they may develop and any future treatments.

They did not create the gene. Darwin did.

If they want to realize profits from their discovery, then they need to invent a drug or treatment that can be patented. Patenting the gene makes no sense. That is like patenting neurons or mitochondria.

[tommymac]

Originally Posted by Homeslice

They did not create the gene. Darwin did.

If they want to realize profits from their discovery, then they need to invent a drug or treatment that can be patented. Patenting the gene makes no sense. That is like patenting neurons or mitochondria.

Darwin didnt "create" them either he just proposed their existance, then watson and crick took it further with the discovery of DNA and the guys working on the human genome project probably are the ones who discovered these speciffic genes.

But theres some fierce competition with some of this research and obviously a lot of money involved so I can see a biotech frim trying to gain whatever leverage they can to get their product out there first and keep the patent on it.

But ialso agree that they shouldnt be able to patent a gene, unless of course its soemthing mainpulated or engineered by man, then they may have a legit claim.

[Homeslice]

lol when I said Darwin I meant God or evolution, depending on your beliefs

[tommymac]

Originally Posted by Homeslice

lol when I said Darwin I meant God or evolution, depending on your beliefs

Watch what you say here we dont want trip dropping the hammer again

[pauldun170]

Originally Posted by Homeslice

lol when I said Darwin I meant God or evolution, depending on your beliefs

Carefull....we ain't in war room.