AMA welcomes an end to human gene patents

WASHINGTON, DC –  The American Medical Association (AMA) said the U.S. Supreme Court's unanimous rejection of patenting human genes is a clear victory for patients that will expand medical discovery and preserve access to innovative diagnosis and treatment options.

“The American Medical Association has long advocated for a clear prohibition against human gene patents. To ensure the U.S. Supreme Court heard physicians' voices loud and clear, the AMA joined with other health care organizations to file an amicus brief in defense of the federal court ruling that invalidated patents held by Myriad Genetics on the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes consistent with the law,” said Jeremy A. Lazarus, M.D., American Medical Association president, in a statement.

On Thursday (June 13), the Supreme Court ruled that the human gene cannot be patented. The case arose when a group of medical researchers, associations and patients in the United States filed suit in 2009 against Myriad Genetics Inc, saying human genes, including synthetically produced material, should not be patented. They challenged seven patents owned by or licensed to Myriad on two genes – called BRCA1 and BRCA2 – linked to breast and ovarian cancer.

Commenting on the unanimous rejection of the Supreme court, Dr Lazarus said, “The AMA is pleased that the justices saw through the flawed premise that resulted in Myriad's exclusive patent awards and affirmed that human genes are products of nature and not patent eligible.