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PETBioNewsNewsNo charge for breast cancer gene test

BioNews

No charge for breast cancer gene test

Published 9 June 2009 posted in News and appears in BioNews 84

Author

BioNews

Image by Peter Artymiuk via the Wellcome Collection. Depicts the shadow of a DNA double helix, on a background that shows the fluorescent banding of the output from a DNA sequencing machine.
CC BY 4.0
Image by Peter Artymiuk via the Wellcome Collection. Depicts the shadow of a DNA double helix, on a background that shows the fluorescent banding of the sequencing output from an automated DNA sequencing machine.

The UK government is finalising a deal that will allow NHS doctors to carry out tests on two patented genes involved in breast cancer, without paying royalty fees to British licence-holders Rosgen. Although the details of the deal have yet to be agreed, Rosgens say that in the interim, NHS...

The UK government is finalising a deal that will allow NHS doctors to carry out tests on two patented genes involved in breast cancer, without paying royalty fees to British licence-holders Rosgen. Although the details of the deal have yet to be agreed, Rosgens say that in the interim, NHS labs can continue to carry out the genetic tests without fear of being sued for patent infringement.


Alterations in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes are associated with rare, inherited forms of breast and ovarian cancer. Patents on both sequences were controversially granted to US firm Myriad Genetics, who then licensed the resulting genetic tests to Rosgen last February. Professor John Burn, a medical geneticist who took part in the government negotiations, had feared that the patents would prevent UK clinical genetics labs from offering patients the tests. 'This is exactly the type of situation which will arise if genetic information continues to be patented' he said.


But Rosgen insist it was never their intention - or that of Myriad's - to stifle the test's use by invoking patent rights. 'Rosgen's aim is to introduce a commercial service that complements the service provided by the NHS' a spokesman said. According to the Independent newspaper, Rosgen plans to charge from £450 to £2,500 for private tests, which will range from identifying a single alteration to sequencing the entire gene.


Meanwhile, research carried out by Gene Watch UK for the Guardian newspaper reveals that patents on over 500,000 whole or partial gene sequences from living organisms are pending, or have already been granted. The list includes patents filed on 161,195 human gene sequences.

Related Articles

Image by Peter Artymiuk via the Wellcome Collection. Depicts the shadow of a DNA double helix, on a background that shows the fluorescent banding of the output from a DNA sequencing machine.
CC BY 4.0
Image by Peter Artymiuk via the Wellcome Collection. Depicts the shadow of a DNA double helix, on a background that shows the fluorescent banding of the sequencing output from an automated DNA sequencing machine.
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28 January 2011 • 1 minute read

Gene linked to the spread of cancer: Breakthrough or hype?

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Scientists from the University of East Anglia have discovered a gene that appears to play an important role in the spread of cancer...

Image by Peter Artymiuk via the Wellcome Collection. Depicts the shadow of a DNA double helix, on a background that shows the fluorescent banding of the output from a DNA sequencing machine.
CC BY 4.0
Image by Peter Artymiuk via the Wellcome Collection. Depicts the shadow of a DNA double helix, on a background that shows the fluorescent banding of the sequencing output from an automated DNA sequencing machine.
News
7 August 2009 • 2 minutes read

Gene patent enquiry triggers calls for law reform

by Dr Antony Starza-Allen

A Senate Committee in Australia is hearing arguments for and against gene patenting with a view to propose future law reforms in this area. Opponents of gene patents argue that it can restrict access to vital diagnostic techniques, such as breast cancer screening, which identify certain genes that indicate the presence of a disorder. On the other hand...

Image by Peter Artymiuk via the Wellcome Collection. Depicts the shadow of a DNA double helix, on a background that shows the fluorescent banding of the output from a DNA sequencing machine.
CC BY 4.0
Image by Peter Artymiuk via the Wellcome Collection. Depicts the shadow of a DNA double helix, on a background that shows the fluorescent banding of the sequencing output from an automated DNA sequencing machine.
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9 June 2009 • 2 minutes read

On the horizon: two new breast cancer tests

by BioNews

A new test could enable doctors to more accurately predict if women are at a higher risk of carrying a mutated BRCA1 breast cancer gene. This may help women who do not know if the disease runs in their family decide whether they need to be tested for the mutated...

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