Myriad › Gene Patenting › Patents

Myriad Genetics is a publicly-traded molecular diagnostic company headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah. Myriad's business model centers around isolating particular genes and determining their role in the... more +

Myriad Genetics is a publicly-traded molecular diagnostic company headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah. Myriad's business model centers around isolating particular genes and determining their role in the development and progression of disease. Myriad's patenting practices have elicited considerable controversy with many opponents charging that Myriad cannot rightfully patent human genes. Opponents argue that human genes are naturally occurring and not patent-eligible subject matter. Myriad counters that the practice of isolating genes is a process distinct from the genes themselves and thus, is patentable. The U.S. Supreme Court is currently considering the validity of Myriad's patents in AMP v. Myriad Genetics.