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DNA patenting: the end of an era?

journal contribution
posted on 2023-06-07, 21:44 authored by Michael HopkinsMichael Hopkins, Surya Mahdi, Parimal Patel, Sandy M Thomas
Debates on patenting DNA must evolve to reflect the global decline in filings and regional disparities in patenting activity. Encouraged by the success of early patents protecting DNA-based drugs and vaccines, thousands of patent applications claiming human DNA have been filed over the past 15 years. This upsurge in patenting activity accelerated in parallel with the advance of the Human Genome Project, and has engendered widespread speculation about the potential impact of DNA patents on innovation and access to healthcare.

History

Publication status

  • Published

Journal

Nature Biotechnology

ISSN

1087-0156

Publisher

Nature Publishing Group

Issue

2

Volume

25

Page range

185-187

Pages

3.0

Department affiliated with

  • SPRU - Science Policy Research Unit Publications

Notes

The popular view that patenting has had adverse consequences on the free exchange of information in biotechnology has been partially reversed in recent years, according to this paper in the leading scientific journal in the field. The paper is methodologically novel in combining distinctive patent analysis with interviews. Dr Hopkins wrote 60% of this paper and did the interview work and project design. It has been cited by the UK minister for S&T and innovation and discussed in depth at a recent Patent Office/ DTI conference; also discussed in US policy deliberations.

Full text available

  • No

Peer reviewed?

  • Yes

Legacy Posted Date

2012-02-06

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