Patents in the Postgenomic Era: Proprietary Drug Targets and Therapies

Abstract

By 2001, the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) received 34,527 biotechnology patent applications. A new report indicates patents on genes and proteins--representing potential drug targets--are quickly becoming the currency of the postgenomic era. D&MDs Patents in the Postgenomic Era: Proprietary Drug Targets and Therapies is the first report to attempt to assess the impact of human genome sequencing efforts on drug discovery research and to focus on the implications for the drug targets industry. The report offers information from past experiences with patenting of genes and proteins to secure potential drug targets by obtaining suitable patent protection and the results of a new survey of 9,972 postgenomic patents to assist the reader in predicting how soon products of genomics may reach advanced clinical trials.