The Myriad Decision: Patented Human Genes and Their Impact on Medical Research

In this episode Tom Dunlap discusses the controversial topic of patenting human genes. Specifically, he discusses the landmark Myriad decision in 2013, where the Supreme Court ruled that nobody could own human genes under a patent. Prior to this decision, research organizations and pharmaceutical companies argued that they spent millions of dollars discovering unique gene sequences and should have the right to patent them. However, this stifled research and prevented advancements in the field. Since the Myriad decision, more than half of all clinical trials require the use of some kind of human gene biomarker - leading to the availability of 286 targeted therapies by 2020. Join us as we explore the impact of the Myriad decision on medical research and the importance of not owning life.