In this episode, I interview Law Professor Jorge Contreras about the past, present, and future of biotech companies patenting the human genome.
chrismasterjohnphd.com/blog/2021/12/2…
chrismasterjohnphd.com/blog/2021/12/2…
Three of the most surprising things I uncovered in this interview:
There remain on the books thousands of patents for naturally occurring human genes, even though they aren't enforceable because of the 2013 Supreme Court decision.
There remain on the books thousands of patents for naturally occurring human genes, even though they aren't enforceable because of the 2013 Supreme Court decision.
The C-word virus would have had its genome patented if not for the 2013 Supreme Court decision.
The 2013 Supreme Court decision can be overturned by Congress and there is a powerful, well-financed movement to do so. It was briefly paused during C-word but it has already started back up.
The patenting of naturally occurring human genes and the genes of newly emerging viruses could hypothetically restart as early as next year.
Two things I asked Professor Contreras about that I'm so glad he engaged with:
Two things I asked Professor Contreras about that I'm so glad he engaged with:
How should we think about a world with fully patentable, widespread or even mandated prophylactic gene therapy?
What if several large companies rush to install enough prophylactic gene therapies in all of us and engineer us into Microsoft-style or Apple-style operating systems and medicine becomes software that operates inside these corporate-owned ecosystems within our bodies?
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