European Patent Office grants patent on BRCA2 to Myriad 27/1/03. By the Public Health Genetics Unit On 8 January 2003, the European Patent Office granted patent EP0785216 to the US-based company Myriad Genetics Inc, giving it patent rights in Europe over the sequence of the BRCA2 gene. Mutations in this gene greatly increase the risk of breast cancer.

Like the BRCA1 gene patent, which Myriad also holds, the patent on BRCA2 covers not only the sequence of the gene but also virtually any use of this information for breast cancer diagnosis, risk prediction, screening or therapy. Somatic mutations in BRCA2 are covered as well as germ-line (constitutional) mutations.

Mutations in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes greatly increase the risk of breast cancer.

Myriad's European patent on BRCA1 has been challenged by some European governments and research institutes, as well as by the campaigning organisation Greenpeace. Challenges to the BRCA2 patent are also expected.

Article courtesy of the Public Health Genetics Unit.