Myriad Genetics

Abstract

Myriad Genetics is a public company based in Salt Lake City, Utah, that was founded in 1991 as a genomics company. Myriad has focused much of its efforts on developing diagnostic methods to exploit its early discovery, and patenting the gene sequence of a breast cancer susceptibility gene, BRCA1, and subsequently a second gene, BRCA2. Strategic partnerships with companies such as Bayer, Novartis and Abbott have generated some revenues to augment the company’s income from diagnostic testing, but have not provided Myriad with sufficient capital to readily diversify by acquisition. Myriad has not been an intensive filer of patents during the 13 years of its existence, with only 105published applications or granted patents. This analysis of its patenting since Myriad’s inception, indicates a changing trend in its patent applications with most of the recent patenting related to drug targets that it is now attempting to exploit through its own research and development efforts.

• biotechnology
• genomics
• patent analysis