
The Supreme Court ruled recently that genes, in their natural form, cannot be patented. At the focus of the ruling was Myraid Genetics, the company that makes the only tests for two breast cancer genes, BRCA1 and BRCA2. Myraid held a set of patents that gave the company exclusive rights to a genetic screening that can predict a woman's breast cancer risk.
This decision is extremely important and may help change the future of genetic medicine.
Several labs have already announced plans to offer genetic testing for breast cancer risk, which may help make the test less expensive and more available to women.
This is timely news that is front and center of the public eye due to Angelina Jolie's decision to have a preventive double mastectomy after being testing for a mutation of BRCA1.
Women and patients all over the world will have more access to genetic testing and scientists can now engage in more research on these genes.
All-in-all this is a win for our health and the future of medicine.
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Wow Maryann, my thoughts are with you and your family.
I agree that genetic testing is very important. I think genetic testing will be the future of preventive care.
I personally have not had the genetic test, but every woman on my dad's side has had breast cancer. It is something I have always been interested in, but the cost has been too high. I am hoping that we will now have more options with genetic testing forcing the price down making it affordable for every woman.
June 17, 2013 - 9:54amThis Comment
Hello Shana,
I was recently diagnosed with invasive mucinous carcinoma of the breast. Though it is a rare type of breast cancer, more common among menopausal women, it is a malignancy and I was tested for genomes. Thankfully, the biopsy result was BRCA negative.
The availability of genetic testing is very important to me because I have a daughter.
Maryann
June 14, 2013 - 5:28pmThis Comment