GTG wins new DNA patent settlement

Genetic Technologies (ASX:GTG) has scored another victory in its genetic breast cancer testing patent enforcement efforts in the US.

The company announced the signing of a settlement and licensing agreement with Wisconsin-based PreventionGenetics.

GTG filed a patent infringement lawsuit against PreventionGenetics in late 2012. This lawsuit will now be dismissed. The commercial terms of the agreement are confidential.

GTG has been using the legal system to pursue licensing deals covering its non-coding DNA patents for years. In mid-2012, the company expanded its relationship with US-based IP attorneys Sheridan Ross to allow the lawyers to represent GTG in jurisdictions outside of the US.

DNA markers covered by this patent portfolio are used in GTG’s BREVAGen genetic test for breast cancer risk, and GTG is trying to force other companies using the same genetic markers to take out a licence.

But the validity of patents covering genetic material remains a controversial topic and has come under fire from multiple fronts.

Genetic Technologies shares were trading unchanged at $0.078 as of around 2 pm on Monday.