Human gene patents: the possible impacts on genetic services healthcare.

The patent system has been seen as a critical factor driving innovation in clinical medicine, particularly in medical devices and diagnostic assays. The licence terms and business model proposed by Myriad Genetics Inc. for testing the hereditary breast cancer susceptibility genes BRCA1 and BRCA2 could stifle innovation (particularly if other companies adopt similar business models), and are likely to limit the ability to provide high quality public genetic testing services in Australia.