Microarray technology--an intellectual property retrospective

The recent sequencing of the human genome is a critical milestone that has provided a framework for the identification of thousands of novel potential drug targets and the common genetic factors that affect drug metabolism and toxicity. Microarrays represent a novel genetic platform which is being widely exploited to bridge the gap between gene sequence and function. Microarray technology has found broad use in the areas of disease diagnosis, pharmacogenomics and toxicogenomics, and many opportunities continue to be created in the marketplace. As the field matures and enters the clinical arena, we will witness further innovation in both the public and private sectors, which ultimately will improve the technology. However, the exercise of intellectual property rights in this area has shadowed the evolution of this technology. This report provides a retrospective review of microarrays, highlighting the key patents and litigation that have shaped the industry.