wtf, I didn't know you could patent a disease

[brainhulk]

http://news.yahoo.com/big-pharma-standing-way-curing-sars-174908184.html

CNN reports that, to date, there have been 49 known infections of MERS-CoV (formerly known just as NCoV), and 27 have resulted in death — that's 55 percent — with infections reported in five new people in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday, three of whom have already died. This virus knows how to kill, which it does by way of pneumonia and eventual kidney failure.

Like most deadly diseases — and there seem to be a lot going around these days — finding a cure won't be easy. But there may be one majorly complex — and already controversial — pharmacological debate standing in the way of pressing life-saving treatments: A couple Dutch scientists have already patented part of the disease, and they're not the only ones looking to profit on it.

 

[Red Storm]

I'm thinking a better explanation is in order cause that sounds really fucked up.

 

[SunnyD]

I'm thinking a better explanation is in order cause that sounds really fucked up.

You can patent gene sequences. Believe it or not, chunks of the human genome are patented. Technically, by impregnating someone, you are committing patent infringement.

It's patently retarded. Pun intended.

 

[jagec]

Wait, a company wants to claim ownership of a product that kills people?

This seems like an easy fix.

 

[etrigan420]

I'm sure the free market will be along shortly to sort this whole thing out...

 

[HamburgerBoy]

You can patent gene sequences. Believe it or not, chunks of the human genome are patented. Technically, by impregnating someone, you are committing patent infringement.

It's patently retarded. Pun intended.

You can patent isolated DNA, but technically your babby juice doesn't.

btw, simply following a couple links starting from the one in the op, the company denies that they patented the "parts" of the disease (which I would have guessed) and imply they've patented either an antibody, vaccine, or some method involving the virus. Doing a quick Google Patent search I can find patents of previous vaccines and antibodies filed by them, but I can't find anything related to that in the op, although I have no idea if applications through the Netherlands' patent office are searchable.

I'm sure the free market will be along shortly to sort this whole thing out...

Yes, because government-created monopolies are the work of the free market. Everyone knows this.

 

[etrigan420]

Yes, because government-created monopolies are the work of the free market. Everyone knows this.

wut