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Remind me again, how can companies patent breast cancer genes?
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Remind me again, how can companies patent breast cancer genes?

L. Palombi
The Conversation, Vol.19 June 2015
The Conversation Media Group
2015
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Abstract

This week cancer survivor Yvonne D’Arcy had another day in court in her case against a US company’s patent on cancer genes. Myriad Genetics was granted a patent in 1995 for isolating hereditary mutations to the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes, which increase the carrier’s risk of developing breast and ovarian cancer. Australia’s Federal Court last year rejected Ms D'Arcy’s appeal and ruled the patent was valid because the method of isolating the genes was an invention. The High Court challenge is the last resort for Ms D'Arcy’s test case against companies patenting human genes and has implications for patients, clinicans and researchers' access to genetic information.

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