NHGRIUtah-based molecular diagnostics firm Myriad Genetics, perhaps best known for its now-invalidated BRCA1 and BRCA2 patents, is among a group of plaintiffs suing Pathway Genomics in San Diego for alleged patent infringement. Last July, Myriad sued both Ambry Genetics and Gene by Gene, claiming similar infringement. This March, however, a US District Court judge denied the company’s request to block its competitors from marketing BRCA tests.
Myriad announced the most recent lawsuit last week (June 13), a year to the day since the U.S. Supreme Court invalidated its gene patents, and 10 days after Pathway Genomics announced its “BRCATrue” test and plans to make it available to uninsured women. Also suing Pathway are co-patent holders: the University of Utah, the University of Pennsylvania, The Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto, and Endorecherche, Inc., of Québec.
“Given [Myriad Genetics’] pattern of filing lawsuits against other companies broadening access to this life-saving technology in clear disregard of the Supreme Court’s decision last year, this lawsuit is not unexpected,” Pathway Genomics CEO Jim Plante said in a statement. “We do not infringe on any valid patent claims and are prepared to vigorously defend ourselves.”
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