This text comes as a continuation of the previous one “Artificial Life” where I have talk about Genetic Manipulated Animals and Plants and patents over these ones. But on this text we go to a higher level of patent over Genes.
Genes of pathogens (diseases) are also being patented and controlled by Corporations around the Globe. And it has become a BIG business, not just the property of patents on the genes of pathogens, but the decoding and selling info about these genes. Among the biggest in the business are Incyte, Eli Lilly, Abott Laboratories and Johnson and Johnson.
Among some of the pathogens that have been patented so far we found SARS, Canavan, Tuberculosis, Malaria, Hepatitis C , Breast Cancer. link
But how can someone make business by owning the genes of a disease?? By having the control over the research, creation and sale of diagnosis tests because if a Company owns the patent of the gene, this means that the research to the creation of diagnosis tests for that disease have to be authorized by the Company in question, and like we all know that Companies don’t give anything, especially in Pharmaceutical business, that is one of the biggest and more profitable in the planet.
According to a study directed by Dr. Mildred from Stanford University, and presented at the OECD Workshop on Genetics Inventions in January 2002, 25% of the interviewed American Laboratories had suspended their tests process because of claims by patents holders, and 53% had declined to develop their own improved diagnosis process because relevant patents had been granted already. link
Let’s take for example Malaria. Malaria has 39 different types of patents over it, what it means that research on this disease will be extremely expensive, just in fees and royalties to the Companies that own the patents. link <
One of the more outrageous cases is the one of the patent that Myriad Genetics owns over 2 different types of breast cancer. After got the patent, Myriad has forbidden all the other laboratories from sell the patented or other genetic similar tests for breast cancer. Getting the total monopoly over the market of tests for breast cancer, what it end it up with the price of the tests raise over 400% in some cases. link
Another really bad spooky factor to add to this situation is the fact that 36% of the diseases connected to breast cancer are covered by the mutation of the genes are not possible to detected by this test. Not only this but ALL the blood samples had to be shipped to Myriad Headquarters because the Company don’t grant manufacturing licences.
But according to the words of the Corporations representatives: “Whoever is the first to patent a DNA sequence for any use can lock up subsequent uses” link
What I’m going to say next is something out of my mind, not something i can prove, or even claim that is truth, is just something that I have thought.
Is no secret to no one the hundreds of farmers that have been sued by Monsanto in States and Canada because of the contamination of the crop fields of these ones by Monsanto patented seeds. This where cases where the farmer’s didn’t have the minimum intention of have Monsanto seed’s in their crops, and the appearing of the seeds in the field where pure accidental, brought to there by the wind or some bird, or in some cases, lots of seeds bought by the farmer that where already contaminated without the knowledge of the involved but even so Monsanto have one all the cases and ceased control over the fields. link
Now and if these Pharmaceutical Companies try to do the same with the Genes over the ones they own patents? Will it be me or anyone else sick with one the patented diseases and suddenly be sued by one of these Companies, because there is a Gene inside me that belong to them and i haven’t pay to have it in me? And as so from that moment the person to who this happens its property of the Company in question? If we analyze the case from a juridical point of view, the Company will win, just like Monsanto have won so far.
Maybe is just me being paranoid. Or maybe not.
Text by: Specter
See you next time
Stay in Peace
you know you are full of bullshit? you are acutally just quoting other peoples books or articles.
ReplyDeleteIf I wrote an article about a theory that my computer was a ultra high-tech machine that the US government produced specific to do surveillance and that this might had something to do with guantamo and organic food.. would you believe it? If I ended the article with a sentence where I mentioned that I had a PD in organic warfare f.example...
Tks for the critics, are allways wellcome.
ReplyDeletewhen im quoting others people works, im just sustaining what i say and thing. About that text you talk u may wrote, if it is well sustayned and if it makes since in my point of view, i may acept it as a possible true. If you acept everything u see first time as true, then u are going a really wrong path.
And next time, identify your self please
Stay in Peace