Some are concerned that patent holders, public and private, will impose licensing terms on users of their inventions that will impede medical research or restrict patient access to affordable new clinical tests and therapeutic treatments. There have been a few notable cases already that suggest this is an issue that warrants discussion. Some are concerned that patents have issued that may not meet the statutory requirements for patentability. And they are concerned that the Patent and Trademark Office will not adequately elevate the bar to patentability in their new utility guidelines. Without question, we are looking into this at a time of substantial change both in terms of what patent applicants seek to patent, and how the PTO measures the patentability of submissions.
Industry continues to make adjustments in light of what it learns about patents and licensing.
The PTO is developing new guidelines. And the rest of us are just beginning to understand the issues at play. But there clearly are policy questions that we need to be asking. With that said, I want to thank the witnesses for coming here today, I particularly want to thank Dr. Varmus for joining us. I look forward to the testimony.