Supreme Court Strikes Down Gene Patents

Nature can not be patented:
http://www.boston.com/business/technology/2013/06/13/court-says-human-genes-cannot-patented/56BCnX2hTvDXSOedSkOy0N/story.html

But some processes could:
http://www.startribune.com/lifestyle/health/211446711.html

"However, Jeffrey Rosenfeld, a researcher and assistant professor at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, said the ruling is good news for researchers, who now will be able to sequence genes to try to better understand diseases and to create new treatments — without fear of being sued by companies such as Myriad.

"Their monopoly is gone. The method patents basically are completely irrelevant," Rosenfeld said.

He said diagnostic testing companies now could sequence genes linked to breast cancer or other diseases and use the information to develop diagnostic tests that use different methods than Myriad's. Likewise, he said, "scientists can now research freely without fear of being sued."

Sad really.   Is the gene patent troll problem as bad as in software?  

Rucaparib Parp Inhibitor Showing High Disease Control Rate In Early Test

http://meetinglibrary.asco.org/content/115538-132

Disease control >12 week

Angelina Effect

In one year, I expect the prophelactic mastectomy rates would double if not triple.   I also expect the rates of women asking for BRCA tests to double and the maker of BRCA tests is going to have a stellar year.

Here's why I am not thrilled:   

1.  BRCA tests are expensive and provides very little information for either research or treatment.   95% don't have these known BRCA mutations, 10% would develop BC anyway.   Full gene sequencing provides much more information for research and treatment someday, and its price is just a bit more than BRCA tests.   Yet I see NO articles making this point.     Taxpayers and insurers have NO obligation to foot the bill for BRCA tests, but every reason to support more research in full gene sequencing.

2.   Breast cancer, specificly metastatic breast cancer has no cure.   This is the foundamental justification for Angelina's decision.   More money needs to go to research and more research into metastatic BC, not into unnecessary and expensive BRCA gene tests.   Again I do not see anyone making these point.

Angelina Effect could be really positive if Angelina Jolie could direct attention to support for MBC research.   Totally wasteful if it just ends up with more women clamouring for BRCA gene tests, and getting a false sense of security when BRCA tests show negative for a few known mutations and forget about the threat of MBC.

PD991 or Palbociclib Receives FDA Breakthrough Designation

http://www.fiercebiotech.com/press-releases/pfizers-palbociclib-pd-0332991-receives-food-and-drug-administration-breakt

Copper Reduction for TN

If they are able to keep even 1/2 of the metastatic TNBC folks alive for a few years, that's pretty awesome:
http://weill.cornell.edu/news/releases/wcmc/wcmc_2013/02_13_13.shtml

Their clinical trial is expanding.

NeuroBlate on recurrent glioblastoma multiforme

http://www.medpagetoday.com/TheGuptaGuide/Oncology/38288

"In the first-in-man phase I study, published online in the Journal of Neurosurgery,median survival of 10 patients treated with the NeuroBlate Thermal Therapy System was 316 days."

Doubling the survival of a very aggressive brain cancer.   Could it be used for other type of brain tumor as well?   

Circulating Tumor DNA: Proof of concept

http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa1213261

29/30 metastatic patient sees their CT dna above normal.   Wow!