In Contentious Meeting, SACGHS Tackles Gene-Association Patentability, Impact of Exclusive Licenses

Although SACGHS has yet to finalize its recommendations to exempt diagnostic developers from infringing on gene-association patents, last week's meeting ignited a debate on whether such a recommendation can be acted upon by the HHS Secretary, whether this would harm innovation, and whether the committee's conclusions about gene patents' deleterious impact on patient access was support by evidence.