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Gmail Peter Burgess
Cancer, patented
Emma Pullman, SumOfUs.org
Wed, Sep 24, 2014 at 12:09 PM
Reply-To: us@sumofus.org
To: Peter Burgess
An Australian court just ruled breast cancer genes can be patented. This could set a global precedent giving corporations the right to control human genes that could save lives.
Can you tell Myriad Genetics to drop its patent?
Sign the Petition
Peter,
A biotech corporation just fought a breast cancer survivor in court -- and won the right to profit off human genes that could save the lives of millions living with cancer.
This court ruling will impact people all over the world battling cancer -- and could set cancer research back years. We have to stop this.
Can you ask Myriad Genetics to drop its patent claim on the breast and ovarian cancer gene now?
Few people in the world can say they’ve never been affected by cancer -- me included. Right now, both my mother and aunt are battling breast cancer. Their diagnoses, surgeries, doctor’s appointments and fast-approaching chemotherapy and radiation have been painful, stressful, and all-consuming for my family. I now live with the fear that my sister, cousins and I could be at risk of breast cancer in the future.
With global cancer rates on the rise, we need to be fighting for prevention, treatments and cures for cancer -- not allowing corporations to profit off them. Scientists say genetic science is just years away from tests and treatments that will limit the suffering of millions of people around the world battling cancer. But patents like the one sought by Myriad Genetics threaten this.
This court decision actually means that corporations can own our genes. And it will make life-saving tests more expensive, slow down potentially lifesaving medical research, and put people’s lives at risk. Even the U.S. Supreme Court has previously ruled against Myriad's patent -- which is why this Australian ruling is so alarming, and so damaging.
Big Biotech is looking to this case as a chance to cash in big -- if this patent is allowed to stand, there will be a rush to patent more genes, wreaking more havoc on cancer research and human health.
Please join me in telling Myriad Genetics to stop trying to profit off breast cancer victims.
Together, we can force Myriad to back down now, and help save millions of lives -- including my mother’s.
Thanks for all you do,
Emma, Angus, Cami, Katherine, Paul and the team at SumOfUs.org
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Read more:
Australian federal court rules isolated genetic material can be patented, Guardian, September 5, 2014.
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/sep/05/court-rules-breast-cancer-gene-brca1-patented-australia
Calls for patent law reform after Federal Court judgement, ABC, September 5, 2014.
http://www.abc.net.au/pm/content/2014/s4082062.htm
Mutation of breast cancer gene can be patented, says Federal Court, Sydney Morning Herald, September 5, 2014.
http://www.smh.com.au/national/health/mutation-of-breast-cancer-gene-can-be-patented-says-federal-court-20140905-10ckfp.html
Human DNA belongs to no one - it shouldn't be patented ...The Australian federal court ruled that isolated human genetic material can be patented. The US supreme court disagrees – and the Americans got it exactly right
http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/sep/08/human-dna-belongs-to-no-one-it-shouldnt-be-patented
SumOfUs is a worldwide movement of people like you, working together to hold corporations accountable for their actions and forge a new, sustainable path for our global economy. Please help keep SumOfUs strong by chipping in $3.
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