The Eastern Ontario Children’s Hospital (CHEO) in Canada, has just lodged an appeal against American holders of a test to screen for a rare cardiac disorder. Although “the future of medicine” is closely linked more and more to DNA research, as emphasised by Alex Munter, President and Managing Director of CHEO, the exclusive holding of patent rights, whilst protecting innovation, is hampering research and patient care: “No-one should have the monopoly over a natural element. Patenting a gene is like patenting the water we drink and the air that we breathe”. “It is vital to clarify this problem for the benefit of all those affected”.
La Presse (Jean-François Dugas) 03-11-2014