More diagnostics companies pounce in wake of SCOTUS gene decision

At least two other U.S. diagnostics companies are revving up new cancer tests in the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court decision determining that human genes are products of nature and can't be patented. And that means Myriad Genetics--whose gene patents were at the center of the Supreme Court ruling--will face new competition. The Boston Globe reports that Gene By Gene of Houston will launch a test that screens for genes that point to a heightened breast or ovarian cancer risk--a cheaper test that will be in direct competition with Myriad's more expensive option. GeneDx of Maryland will also develop a similar test that will look at a broader number of genes. Quest Diagnostics ($DGX) said on Friday it would develop tests that screen for the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes for breast and ovarian genetic mutations that point to higher breast cancer risk, just as Myriad offers. Story (subs. req.)