Supreme Court hears arguments related to patent dispute

Dec 9 2011

The Minneapolis Star Tribune reports that the question is whether patents can be applied to concepts drawn from nature and notes that the case could redefine ownership of technological or scientific innovations.

Associated Press/(St. Paul) Pioneer Press: Mayo Argues Case For 'Personal Medicine' Patent Issue
The justices heard from lawyers from Rochester, Minn.-based Mayo Clinic, which wants the court to throw out a patent held by Prometheus Laboratories, owned by Switzerland-based Nestle. Mayo argues the patent would keep its own medical test off the market at the cost of better care for patients. The patent in question covers a blood test that helps doctors determine the proper dosage for a drug, thiopurine, to treat gastrointestinal and non-gastrointestinal autoimmune illnesses (Holland, 12/8).

Minneapolis Star Tribune: Supreme Court Weighs Mayo Patent Dispute 
In a case that could redefine ownership of technological or scientific innovations, the U.S. Supreme Court considered arguments Wednesday over whether patents can be applied to concepts drawn from laws of nature. Lawyers from the Mayo Clinic asked justices to reject the patent held by Prometheus Laboratories that covers a diagnostic drug test for gastrointestinal disorders. Mayo argued the patent prevents the clinic from marketing its own version of the test at the cost of patient care (Spencer, 12/7).