An Owners' Guide

News: Pharmaceutical companies are mining your DNA for scientific gold

By Hope Shand

May/June 1998 Issue

TOOLS E-mail article Print article BACKTALK E-mail the editor

Baldness gene Patent pending Columbia University

Alzheimer's gene Patent 5,508,167 Duke University, licensed to Glaxo Wellcome

Parkinson's disease gene Patent pending National Human Genome Research Institution (National Institutes of Health)

Brain cancer gene Patent pending Myriad Genetics Blindness gene (retinitis pigmentosa) Patent 5,705,380 Axys Pharmaceuticals/ Jackson Lab Premature aging gene (Werner's Syndrome) Patent pending Darwin Molecular, licensed to Geron Corp. Asthma gene Patent pending Axys Pharmaceuticals High blood pressure gene (hypertension) Patent 5,589,584 University of Utah Research Foundation, licensed to Myriad Genetics Epilepsy gene Patent pending Stanford University, licensed to Progenitor Obesity gene Patent 5,646,040 Millennium Pharmaceuticals, licensed to Hoffmann- La Roche Osteoporosis gene Patent 5,501,969 Human Genome Sciences Melanoma gene Patent 5,633,161 Millennium Pharmaceuticals

Glaucoma gene Patent pending University of Connecticut/ InSite Vision Cardiovascular disease gene Patent pending Myriad Genetics/ Novartis Breast and ovarian cancer gene Patent 5,693,473 Myriad Genetics/ Centre de Recherche du Chul/ Japanese Foundation for Cancer Research Colon cancer gene Patent 5,648,212 University of Utah/ Johns Hopkins University/ Japanese Foundation for Cancer Research/ Zeneca Limited Arthritis gene (rheumatoid arthritis and some autoimmune diseases) Patent 5,556,767 Human Genome Sciences Human Growth Hormone gene Patent 5,597,709 Human Genome Sciences Iron overload gene (hemochromatosis) Patent 5,705,343 Progenitor, licensed to SmithKline Beecham

Since the early 1990s fledgling genomic companies with enigmatic names such as Progenitor, Millennium Pharmaceuticals, and Darwin Molecular have been pinpointing and patenting human life with the help of $4.5 billion in investments from pharmaceutical companies. The science could lead to cures for cancer and many inherited diseases. But monopoly patents hinder that promise.

Myriad Genetics, for example, found a gene that causes inherited breast cancer and licensed the therapeutic development rights to Eli Lilly. Activists worry that exclusive patent rights over the gene could lead to more expensive gene screening tests and treatments. Patents give companies the right to determine who gets access to genes and at what price. Researchers express concern that exclusive patents will have a "chilling effect" on research and increase medical costs. Biotech companies say patents—and the resulting licensing fees—provide the key incentive for this research. But in Myriad's own corporate literature, the firm candidly admits that its "broad and substantial proprietary estate" of breast cancer genes not only promises huge profits but keeps competitors at bay. "The identification and patenting of genes," notes Myriad, "will present [competitors with] significant barriers to entry."

illustration by Gary Panter

Research provided by the Rural Advancement Foundation International

Plus: Special RAFI supplement for MoJo readers

Comments: