Gene patents are back in the news (including 60 Minutes) after a federal district court judge ruled that the isolated and purified form of certain genetic material (used to diagnose and treat breast cancer) isn’t all that different from the naturally occurring genetic material and thus wasn’t patentable, since products of nature are not patentable. That case is on appeal. Meanwhile, let’s take a look at several gene related patents and published patent applications naming New England inventors of the last year.

• Ironwood Pharmaceuticals Inc. of Cambridge is seeking a patent via Published Application No. US 2010/0234301 (Sept. 16) for a polypeptide comprising a specific amino acid sequence used to treat gastrointestinal disorders (like reflux disease and Crohn’s disease). The list of inventors includes Mark Currie residing in Sterling.

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