From: Jeremy Gruber
Mr. Blight,
As ACE was amicus in the case, you are by now very familiar with the recent U.S. District Court of New York decision in Association for Molecular Pathology v. U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, which invalidates patents on genes linked to hereditary breast and ovarian cancer. As you know the ruling was the result of a lawsuit brought by a group of patients, physicians and scientists and comes amidst a growing body of evidence that gene patents hurt patients by limiting access to life-saving tests and preventing scientists from conducting cutting-edge research.
Although this court decision represents significant progress, it does not prevent the U.S. Patent and Trade Office from issuing future patents. This decision is also subject to appeal and, therefore, is not yet final.
In response, Congressman Xavier Becerra (CA-31) will soon be introducing the Genomic Research and Accessibility Act.
This bill affirms that products of nature, such as the human genome, cannot be patented and is consistent with the court’s decision.
I hope you will support this important legislation by signing on to the attached letter of support. You will also find attached a copy of the bill and a Q and A. Many of the plaintiffs and amici in the Myriad case have already joined us including the Association for Molecular Pathology, American Society for Clinical Pathology and the College of American Pathologists.
Sincerely,
Jeremy Gruber
President
Council for Responsible Genetics
30 Broad St. 30th Fl.
New York, NY 10004
(212) 361-6360