This could be huge ... and disruptive

ACLU seems to have taken down the BRCA gene patent from Myriad Genetics. This could actually change a chunk of the drug development business model. I am not sure if this is a good thing (the business model change), though I also didn’t think that one could patent what is effectively naturally generated prior art. Patents are about reducing theory to practice, and then providing a temporary monopoly on the use of that reduction to practice. This is the basis for small startups to discover a specific gene, what it controls, what impacts it, ask for venture money, and then go and develop a drug. That monopoly has been, from first glance, torn away. The impact of this could be huge. We’ll see.