Spinocerebellar ataxia: patient and health professional perspectives on whether and how patents affect access to clinical genetic testing.

ABSTRACT: Genetic testing for spinocerebellar ataxia is used in diagnosis of rare movement disorders. Such testing generally does not affect treatment, but confirmation of mutations in a known gene can confirm diagnosis and end an often years-long quest for the cause of distressing and disabling symptoms. Through interviews and a web forum hosted by the National Ataxia Foundation, patients and health professionals related their experiences with the effect of patents on access to genetic testing for spinocerebellar ataxia. In the United States, Athena Diagnostics holds either a patent or an exclusive license to a patent in the case of six spinocerebellar ataxia variants (spinocerebellar ataxia 1-3 and 6-8) and two other hereditary ataxias (Friedreich's Ataxia and Early Onset Ataxia). Athena has enfor

SUBMITTER: Powell A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3138714 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature