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Introduction
The gyrations of biotechnology stocks in recent months, together with the recent completion of draft sequences of the human genetic code, have focused renewed public and media attention on the enormous importance and future promise of modern biotechnology. The Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) receives many questions from individuals, Congress, patient advocacy organizations and media outlets about patents and how they apply to biotechnology. This primer is intended to address these questions.
Strong protection for intellectual property is as essential in this area as it is in most other cutting-edge fields of endeavor. This document is intended to provide non-experts with a clear, straightforward explanation of the principles behind patents and how they apply in biotechnology, especially how they apply to genomic research. Biotechnology patents can serve to encourage the development of new medicines, diagnostics and agricultural products.
BIO represents more than 1,000 biotechnology companies, academic institutions and state biotechnology centers in all 50 states and more than 33 nations. We represent the industry in its dealings with Congress and the administration, with state and local governments, and with the public and the media.
Please contact us at BIO with any questions or for additional information on the topics discussed in this document. We can be reached at (202) 962-9200 (voice) or at (202) 962-9201 (fax).
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