Nutrigenomics patents and commercialization: old wine in a new bottle?

This paper looks at the ethical, legal, and social issues (ELSI) associated with commercialization and patenting through the lens of nutrigenomics. These are two areas have generated a great deal of ELSI literature, although very little specific to nutrigenomic research. Nutrigenomic researchers seem likely to face the same patent concerns as those associated with gene patents more generally--specifically, that patents will hurt research and the distribution and uptake of useful technologies. Likewise, there is concern that commercialization pressure will lead to the inappropriate and premature implementation of nutrigenomic services. This paper concludes that while the patenting issues do not seem unique or particularly worrisome in the context of nutrigenomics, the early commercialization of testing is cause for concern and worthy of careful policy consideration.