Related to Gene Patent Ruling stalls Biotech Rally-Myriad (MYGN) down 4.9%

• 2009 in Review: Headline-Making Stories in the Biotech Industry
  Even though last year was marred by the economic crash, the life science sector showed significant progress.
  
• Court’s Halt of Federally Backed ESC Research May Impact Economic Growth
  If the injunction sticks, U.S. firms will likely send ESC research jobs abroad.
  
• Opinion: Watson, Come Here … You're Needed at the PTO
  Without a transformation of the information technology supporting patent examiners, patent reform would be like rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic.
  
• Patent Reform Likely to Benefit Industry Giants More Than Start-Ups
  Points of concern in the America Invents Act include provisions for first-to-file and inequitable conduct.
  
• Legal Challenges to Healthcare Reform Threaten Biopharmaceutical Legislation
  Initiatives detailed in the Act, like those to boost personalized medicine and comparative effectiveness research, could be lost.
  
• Supreme Court’s Decision in Matrixx v. Siracusano Calls for More Disclosure of Adverse Events to Investors
  Side effects that are not statistically significant must also be divulged.
  
• IP Rules for Synthetic Bio Generate More Questions Than Answers
  Among unresolved issues are gene patentability, patent protection vs. open access, and the effect of patent reform.
  
• Patent Uncertainty and Political Flux Keeping hESC Investors from Seeing Returns
  Researchers are exploring other avenues in light of various unknowns.
  
• House Version of Patent Reform Poses Challenges for Biotech Inventors
  Issuing on a first-to-file basis could hurt smaller firms, and restrictions on USPTO revenue could hinder review process.
  
• Language in Bill and Capitol Hill Politics Create Cloudy Outlook for Sunshine in Litigation Act
  Where product liability suits are concerned, the status quo is most likely to prevail.
  
• Prometheus and Myriad Case Outcomes Will Help Shape the Future for MDx Businesses
  Courts’ current decisions suggest that special attention will need to be paid to performing and claiming transformative steps in biomarker-based tests.
  
• USPTO Effort for Small Businesses Seeking Overseas Patents Draws Interest from Bioindustry
  A study assessing what role, if any, the federal government should play will be submitted mid-January.
  
• USPTO Tasked with Evaluating Impact of Gene Patents on Second-Opinion Testing
  Diagnostic firms argue IP protection is key to innovation, while their opponents say it hurts medical practice.
  
• Japan and Australia to Institute Changes to Patent System This Year
  Amendments in Japan take effect in April, and approval of the Australian bill is expected mid-year.
  
• Debate over Patenting Genes at Forefront of First Hearing on Second Opinion Testing
  Hearing was part of a study required by the new patent system to assess the impact of gene patents on obtaining confirmatory tests.
  
• Myriad, Prometheus Continue to Defend Diagnostic Patents while Others Urge More Licensing
  Battle raged on at second USPTO hearing tasked with evaluating the impact of patents on the availability of confirmatory tests.
  
• Illumina, Complete Genomics Prepare for Legal Battle over Sequencing IP
  Illumina filed the case stating that the Complete Genomics Analysis Platform infringes on three of its patents.
  
• Lawyers Offer Predictions for Myriad, Diagnostic Field Based on Supreme Court’s Decision Against Prometheus
  Advice focuses on ensuring transformative steps are included in claims.
  
• EPO Decision, Utah Litigation Show Tuschl Patents Remain Mired in Litigation
  Just as the dust settled in Europe regarding Alnylam’s Tuschl I claims, a lawsuit contesting Tuschl II ownership in the U.S. has risen.
  
• Biggest Biotech Trends of 2012
  GEN takes a look back at some key biopharma developments of the past 12 months.