Relations entre secteurs public et privé dans la recherche sur le génome.

Abstract

Les recherches sur le génome humain, lancées à l’origine par les institutions de recherche publiques ou philanthropiques, reposent aujourd’hui sur une structure triangulaire qui relie les laboratoires publics, les sociétés privées de biotechnologie et les laboratoires pharmaceutiques. Si l’on admet que les collaborations et les transferts entre recherche publique et recherche privée sont indispensables pour développer les recherches et les innovations biomédicales, il convient de concevoir les règles d’une coopération équilibrée, d’encourager le partage et la dissémination des données et de régler le format et l’usage des brevets dans ce domaine d’activité spécifique.

The upsurge of biotechnologies and especially of genome projects is taking place in a context of increasing interplay between science and the market place. Collaboration and partnership between the public and private research sectors are at the heart of a new economy. A large number of contracts now link universities to biotechnology firms, to large pharmaceutical companies and a number of researchers are involved in the creation and development of start-up companies. Through this cooperation, a private research market is developing, mainly based on private databases sold under license to pharmaceutical or agri-food firms, as well as to scientific and medical institutions. In 1991, the NIH were first to file patent applications for gene labels. In 1997, public research institutions accounted for 36 of all genome-related patent applications. The strengthening of ties between scientific institutions and private firms, as well as the management of information with both academic and commercial values, underline the need for new regulations between the public and private research domains. These should invigorate the openness of the research system, and stimulate cooperation and successful technology transfer from academic laboratories to industry. [References: 19]