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Myriad Genetics vs. the people
BRCA NEWSWORTHY
It’s not over yet, but right now the courts have ruled for the people! My favorite article thus far is: click here to follow the link:
Invalidation of gene patents will benefit patients
The article was written 4/3/10 & comes from the website: http://www.news-medical.net/news/20100403/Invalidation-of-gene-patents-will-benefit-patients.aspx
If the ruling is upheld genetic testing & diagnosis will be open to more companies. Competition will put more players into the field & hopefully will be beneficial for patients.
A BLOOD TEST INSTEAD OF MAMMOGRAMS?
BRCA NEWSWORTHY
New Blood Test for Detecting Breast Cancer Comes Soon
reported by Cindie Leonard from Naturalnews.com
Please follow this link: http://www.naturalnews.com/z027324_cancer_brst_blood.html
Doctors & researchers are studying the risk of early breast x’ray vigilance for BRCA positive people & the risk of it causing radiation- induced breast cancer in this high risk group. Right now mammography is the standard tool that doctors use to screen for breast cancer lesions. A new blood test called BC-SERAPRO (it measures certain proteins in blood) is being developed to replace the mammography!
Olaparib a new drug for genetic breast cancer article from The Times Online 6/1/09
BRCA NEWSWORTHY
New drug olaparib offers hope to women with genetic breast cancer by David Rose
Follow this link: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/health/article6400852.ece
Olaparib is made by AstraZeneca & is being used in clinical trials to treat & or prevent cancer in high risk or BRCA families. They feel this drug is very promising in blocking the protein that makes cancer cells –causing only the cancer cell to either die or shrink. (BRCA patients have the mutated gene that is supposed to repair or fix damaged DNA—therefore when the repair doesn’t work properly mistakes in the DNA accumulate, do not repair & cancer develops.)
BIG STORY!!!
BRCA NEWSWORTHY
A lawsuit has been filed against Myriad Genetics & the Patent Office
This story has multiple links: If I understand it correctly, it goes like this:
This link explains a senate debate on 11/12/08 http://www.openaustralia.org/senate/?id=2008-11-12.32.1
There are three BRCA1 patents & one BRCA 2 patent in Australia. Myriad Genetics took out these 4 patents in the USA. Genetic Technologies LTD in Australia is the exclusive licensee of these patents. Therefore the MONOPOLY on BRCA testing!
The following two links further explain the lawsuit against MYRIAD GENETICS & the US Patent Office. Apparently, there is finally awareness & some people are outraged to know that there is a patent on BRCA gene research. This monopoly prevents further research by other interested parties. Myriad Genetics will argue that they have the rights to the patent & it enables them to invest in research & development of cures. The people (cancer patients, pathologists, & genetic researchers) feel that having more players involved will bring down costs to testing & research & cures. The lawsuit also challenges gene patenting in general.
Please feel free to add your comments people!
LINKS:
ACLU sues over patents on breast cancer genes from cnn.com on 5/13/09
By: Stephanie Smith & Caitlin Hagan http://www.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/05/12/us.genes.lawsuit/
Cancer Patients Challenge the Patenting of a Gene from The NYtimes.com on 5/13/09
By: John Schwartz
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/13/health/13patent.html?_r=2&hp
BRCA article from CNNhealth.com 1/9/09
BRCA NEWSWORTHY
‘Cancer-free’ baby born in London
Follow this link for more on this article: http://www.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/01/09/uk.cancerfree.baby/
Friday, 1/9/09 a very expensive genetically engineered baby girl was born in London, England free of the BRCA gene mutation.
This has become a very controversial subject! If an embryo has the BRCA mutation, it is discarded & not implanted in the mother. This becomes controversial because not everyone who has the BRCA gene mutation develops cancer.
WOULD YOU DO GENETIC SCREENING FOR YOUR EMBRYOS IF YOU COULD?
Feel free to leave your comments here…
BRCA article from Hadassah Magazine November 2008 Vol. 90 No. 3
BRCA NEWSWORTHY
Breaking the Chain by Wendy Elliman
Follow this link for the entire awesome article!
http://www.hadassah.org/news/content/per_hadassah/archive/2008/08_Nov/medicine.asp
This past June, twins were born at the Hadassah Hospital in Israel without the BRCA gene mutation. Embryos free of the mutation were implanted in the mother enabling her to “break the breast cancer chain” in her family & give birth to BRCA free babies. Six other BRCA positive couples also had the genetically BRCA free embryos implanted using in-vitro fertilization treatment. One of these couples gave birth in September, & the other 5 couples are expecting soon!
BRCA article from topcancernews.com 10/20/08
BRCA NEWSWORTHY
How women cope with the results of BRCA testing for hereditary breast cancer
By Robert White
Follow the link for the entire article: http://www.topcancernews.com/news/1843/1/How-women-cope-with-the-results-of-BRCA-testing-for-hereditary-breast-cancer
Women with negative BRCA results had the lowest rates of worry & cancer related distress. Women who had inconclusive results (have no genetic mutation currently known to increase breast cancer risk) had similar levels of distress as those who tested BRCA positive. All women had less stress after being tested than before. The women with inconclusive results may still be at risk for breast cancer because of unrecognized mutations or other risk factors associated with family history of breast cancer. BRCA testing is stressful & best done with a genetic counselor who can help evaluate the results.
BRCA article from the Business Standard 10/30/08
BRCA NEWSWORTHY
Latha Jishnu: Attack of the gene fiends
By Latha Jishnu / New Delhi 10/29/08
You can follow the link to get the entire story! http://www.business-standard.com/india/storypage.php?autono=338616
This article was an eye opener for me. Apparently, the U.S. Patent & Trademark office hands out gene patents & the BRCA testing is done by a “monopoly” American company named Myriad Genetics (they own the patent). A similar thing is happening in Australia where Genetic Technologies, which licenses the breast cancer patents from Myriad, is insisting on similar patent restrictions.This blocks further research by any other company & with no competition there is no regulation on test costs & no competition for new discoveries. Women can’t even donate their mutated BRCA genes for research elsewhere because Myriad holds the patent. Litigation is also not realistic because it is too costly & time consuming. In Europe- the European Society of Human Genetics has suggested the focus should shift to who should develop genetic testing & what intellectual property rights they should have. This will free up more companies to research & develop new things to better our genetic health.