Cancer gene patent faces legal challenge - BRCA patients/Australia

"...A legal challenge to the validity of an Australian patent for breast and ovarian cancer genes will be launched in the Federal Court on Tuesday.

The patent for the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes, which make women more suceptible to the cancers, is owned by American biotechnology company Myriad Genetics. Melbourne-based company Genetic Technologies Limited (GTL) has the exclusive licence from Myriad to carry out testing for the genes in Australia. But law firm Maurice Blackburn is filing a case in the Federal Court in Sydney, challenging the right of the companies to hold exclusive rights to the gene...."