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The fate and future of patents on human genes and genetic diagnostic methods

Nature Reviews Genetics volume 13, pages 441–448 (2012)Cite this article

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Abstract

Since the 1970s, patents on human genes and genetic diagnostic methods have been granted under the assumption that they stimulate the development of diagnostic methods and therapeutic products. However, the principles and practices of patenting vary between jurisdictions. Do patent holders, researchers, clinicians and patients really benefit from this heterogeneous patent system? We discuss the problems that result from the current system and suggest how they might be solved by altering the way in which patents are granted and/or licensed.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Isabelle Huys is at the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Centre for Intellectual Property Rights, University of Leuven, Herestraat 49, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium.,

    Isabelle Huys

  2. Gert Matthijs is at the Center for Human Genetics, University of Leuven, Herestraat 49, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium.,

    Gert Matthijs

  3. Geertrui Van Overwalle is at the Centre for Intellectual Property Rights, University of Leuven, Minderbroedersstraat 5, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium,

    Geertrui Van Overwalle

  4. and the Tilburg Institute for Law, Technology and Society, Tilburg University, Warandelaan 2, NL-5000-LE, The Netherlands.,

    Geertrui Van Overwalle

Authors
  1. Isabelle Huys
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  2. Gert Matthijs
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  3. Geertrui Van Overwalle
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Gert Matthijs.

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The authors declare no competing financial interests.

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Supplementary information

Supplementary information S1 (table)

Examples of claims in gene patents (PDF 76 kb)

Supplementary information S2 (box)

Unclear and broad claims for genes (PDF 58 kb)

Supplementary information S3 (box)

Unclear and broad claims for genetic diagnostic methods (PDF 59 kb)

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Huys, I., Matthijs, G. & Van Overwalle, G. The fate and future of patents on human genes and genetic diagnostic methods. Nat Rev Genet 13, 441–448 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrg3255

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