[Patents] Canadian Federal Officials Dismiss Concerns about Gene Patenting

[seth.johnson@RealMeasures.dyndns.org (Seth Johnson)]

http://www.canada.com/ottawa/story.asp?id={A2E4681B-E82B-4008-97CA-98AF542F7DEC}

Federal officials dismiss Ontario's concerns about gene patenting


by DENNIS BUECKERT  
Friday, September 21, 2001


Excerpt:
 
OTTAWA (CP) - Federal officials are shrugging off concerns that the
patenting of human genes could drive up the cost of tests such as
cancer-screening to the point where they are unaffordable. 

They are dismissing demands by Ontario Premier Mike Harris for a review
of patent policy on such genetic tests in the light of Ontario's battle
with a U.S. genetics company. 

Myriad Genetics Laboratories, based in Salt Lake City, is demanding
$3,950 for a cancer-screening test that provincial laboratories can do
for $800. 

The test, which can be used to predict breast and ovarian cancers,
involves two genes on which Myriad holds patents. About 1,000 such tests
were done in Ontario last year. 

Canadian law provides solid protection to companies that hold genetic
patents, said Susan Bincoletto of Industry Canada, which is responsible
for patent policy. 

"If you are given a patent you are given exclusive rights to exclude
others from using and selling and marketing your product. It's yours for
a period of time (which) in Canada is 20 years."