Sangam: A Confluence of Knowledge Streams

Impact of gene patents and licensing practices on access to genetic testing for hearing loss.

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dc.creator Chandrasekharan, Subhashini
dc.creator Fiffer, Melissa
dc.date 2010-04
dc.date.accessioned 2022-05-20T07:23:49Z
dc.date.available 2022-05-20T07:23:49Z
dc.identifier 1530-0366
dc.identifier 10.1097/GIM.0b013e3181d7b053
dc.identifier Genetics in medicine : official journal of the American College of Medical Genetics 2010 Apr; 12(4 Suppl): S171-93
dc.identifier http://hdl.handle.net/10822/515489
dc.identifier.uri http://localhost:8080/xmlui/handle/CUHPOERS/117579
dc.description Genetic testing for heritable hearing loss involves a mix of patented and unpatented genes, mutations and testing methods. More than half of all hearing loss is linked to inherited mutations, and five genes are most commonly tested for in the United States. There are no patents on three of these genes, but Athena Diagnostics holds exclusive licenses to test for a common mutation in the GJB2 gene associated with about 50% of all cases as well as mutations in the MTRNR1 gene. This fragmented intellectual property landscape made hearing loss a useful case study to assess whether patent rights in genetic testing can proliferate or overlap, and whether it is possible to gather the rights necessary to perform testing. Testing for hearing loss is widely available, primarily from academic medical centers. Based on literature reviews and interviews with researchers, research on the genetics of hearing loss has generally not been impeded by patents. There is no consistent evidence of a premium in testing prices attributable to patent status. Athena Diagnostics has, however, used its intellectual property to discourage other providers from offering some tests. There is no definitive answer about the suitability of current patenting and licensing of commonly tested genes because of continuing legal uncertainty about the extent of enforcement of patent rights. Clinicians have also expressed concerns that multiplex tests will be difficult to develop because of overlapping intellectual property and conflict with Athena's sole provider business model.
dc.description http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/GIM.0b013e3181d7b053
dc.format Article
dc.language eng
dc.source 331701
dc.subject Academic Medical Centers
dc.subject Genes
dc.subject Genetic Testing
dc.subject Genetics
dc.subject Intellectual Property
dc.subject Interviews
dc.subject Literature
dc.subject Methods
dc.subject Mutation
dc.subject Patents
dc.subject Property
dc.subject Research
dc.subject Researchers
dc.subject Rights
dc.subject Uncertainty
dc.subject Genetic Screening / Genetic Testing
dc.subject Genetic Patents
dc.title Impact of gene patents and licensing practices on access to genetic testing for hearing loss.
dc.DataProvider Georgetown University Library


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