NPR (8/5) reported on viral contamination at Genzyme's plant that makes its drug Fabrazyme (agalsidase beta), noting that now "patients who depend on Fabrazyme are asking Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius to exercise "march-in rights" under a 1980 law to abrogate Genzyme's patent on the drug, allowing another company to fill the demand." NPR adds, "Such petitions have been filed several times -- never successfully. But this is the first time patients have made the case, alleging that a patent-holder isn't satisfying their needs."
