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.
The Australian Federal Court decision will impact millions of people fighting cancer globally -- and could set global cancer research back years. We have to stop this.
Can you tell the Australian government to change its patent law so corporations can't profit off human genes?
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.
We need to be fighting for prevention, treatments and cures for cancer -- not allowing corporations to profit off them 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 the Australian Federal Court decision threatens this -- and makes life-saving tests more expensive, slows down lifesaving medical research, andputs people’s lives at risk.
Already, biotech corporations are looking to this case as a cash cow and opportunity to enforce their patents. And if Australia’s patent law isn’t changed, there will be a flood of human gene patents purchased, wreaking even more havoc on global cancer research and human health.
The U.S. Supreme has already ruled against this gene patent corporations profiting off breast cancer. If we come together, we can force it to do the right thing.
Please join me in telling the Australian government to change its patent law.
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More information:
Australian federal court rules isolated genetic material can be patented, Guardian, September 5, 2014.
Calls for patent law reform after Federal Court judgement, ABC, September 5, 2014.
Mutation of breast cancer gene can be patented, says Federal Court, Sydney Morning Herald, September 5, 2014.