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Continental drift? Do European clinical genetic testing laboratories have a patent problem?

Accepted version
Peer-reviewed

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Type

Article

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Authors

Liddicoat, Johnathon  ORCID logo  https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7370-3936
Liddell, Kathleen 
McCarthy, Arlie H 
Hogarth, Stuart 
Aboy, Mateo 

Abstract

Recent US Supreme Court decisions have invalidated patent claims on isolated genomic DNA, and testing methods that applied medical correlations using conventional techniques. As a consequence, US genetic testing laboratories have a relatively low risk of infringing patents on naturally occurring DNA or methods for detecting genomic variants. In Europe, however, such claims remain patentable, and European laboratories risk infringing them. We report the results from a survey that collected data on the impact of patents on European genetic testing laboratories. The results indicate that the proportion of European laboratories that have refrained from providing associated testing services owing to patent protection has increased over the last decade (up from 7% in 2008 to 15% in 2017), and that the non-profit sector was particularly strongly affected (up from 4% in 2008 to 14% in 2017). We renew calls for more readily available legal support to help public sector laboratories deal with patent issues, but we do not recommend aligning European law with US law at present. Watchful monitoring is also recommended to ensure that patents do not become a greater hindrance for clinical genetic testing laboratories.

Description

Keywords

Europe, Genetic Testing, Humans, Patents as Topic, Supreme Court Decisions, United States

Journal Title

Eur J Hum Genet

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

1018-4813
1476-5438

Volume Title

27

Publisher

Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Sponsorship
Philomathia Foundation (unknown)
Wellcome Trust (105602/Z/14/Z)
Cambridge/ISSF Wellcome Philomathia Foundation