NEW YORK (GenomeWeb News) – Pathway Genomics and Susan G. Komen today said they are partnering to educate women about screening options available for detecting a genetic predisposition for breast cancer.
San Diego-based Pathway will provide financial support and genetic testing for women in need at no charge, as part of the partnership, which follows a decision by the US Supreme Court two weeks ago that invalidated patents held by Myriad Genetics covering the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes. The court, however, said that Myriad's methods applying knowledge about the genes are patentable.
Shortly after the SCOTUS decision, Pathway Genomics announced its plans to offer BRCA1/2 testing as part of its Hereditary Cancer DNA Insight test, which is scheduled to launch in August. As reported by Clinical Sequencing News, it is one of several companies, labs, and academic centers that have said that they will begin, or already have begun, offering BRCA testing.
"Providing patients with proper education and affordable hereditary cancer screening is extremely important to Pathway Genomics and will help pave the way to saving thousands of lives each year," company Founder and CEO Jim Plante said in a statement.