By Kevin E. Noonan --
A decade after completion of the Human Genome Project, and after more than a decade of hyperbole regarding the promise and benefits of "personalized medicine," genetic diagnostic testing has come to the attention of Congress. For example, Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL) introduced a provision of the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act (LSAIA) that would have "guaranteed" availability of "second opinion" testing for any patented genetic diagnostic test (see "Manager's Amendment (and Others) to H.R. 1249 -- Second Opinions in Genetic Diagnostic Testing"). She withdrew this amendment in the face of strong opposition from the American Civil Liberties Union and other groups, who pursue a complete ban on such testing as well as other aspects of biotechnology; she later introduced a standalone bill (H.R. 2276) that would "require the Director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office to conduct a study on effective ways to provide confirming genetic diagnostic test activity where gene patents and exclusive licensing exist" (see "Bio/Pharm Legislation Watch"); these provisions were added to the LSAIA enacted into law as a mandate that the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office perform a study directed to such a determination. And Congressman Xavier Becerra continues to introduce a bill that would ban all gene patenting, at least prospectively (see "He's Baaack!").
The latest Congressional foray into genetic diagnostic testing comes from Rep. Michael Burgess (R-TX) (at left), who introduced legislation that would prohibit the Food and Drug Administration from regulating genetic diagnostic testing, based on the apprehension that such regulation would cripple innovation and that such testing would be "subsumed" by the bureaucracy. Such testing is already regulated (as is all other laboratory testing) by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) under the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA). Rep. Burgess discussed his bill on November 17th at a "bi-partisan policy forum" sponsored by The Hill and the American Clinical Laboratory Association. The bill was prompted, in part, by FDA announcements that it intends to regulate "direct-to-consumer" genetic diagnostic tests. Rather than cast the legislation as a ban, his bill (the "Modernizing Laboratory Test Standards for Patients Act of 2011," H.R. 3207) provides for regulation of such genetic diagnostic tests under the current CLIA regime, but with new guidelines and regulations directed towards greater clinical validity of such tests. The bill also provides for the establishment of a Laboratory Developed Test (LDT) Test Registry Data Bank (for promoting "transparency") and a reporting requirement for clinical laboratories regarding death or serious injury that occurred as the result of a LDT.
In this regard, the bill requires disclosure for LDTs of the following information to the Data Bank:
• The location of the laboratory.
• The certification and licensure information of the laboratory.
• The purpose of the test.
• The claimed use or uses of the test.
• A description of the test methodology.
• Information regarding the analytical validity of the test.
• Information regarding the clinical validity of the test for each of its claimed uses.
• Information describing the status of the test as an existing test (as described under paragraph (4)), a new test pending review (under subsection (c)), or an authorized new test (under subsection (c)(4)(B)).
For so-called "direct-to-consumer" (DTC) DNA testing, the information required to be submitted includes all the aforementioned and in addition:
(i) The identity, location, and registration information of the test-offering entity.
(ii) The identity of the certified laboratory that will perform the test, and the certification and licensure information for such laboratory.
(iii) information to demonstrate that the consumer will be provided with access to pre-test and post-test counseling by a physician or qualified genetic counselor.
Rep. Burgess has garnered the support of 4 co-sponsors (Rep. Marsha Blackburn, R-TN; Rep. Howard Coble, R-NC; Rep. Robert Latta, R-OH, and Rep. Erik Paulsen, R-MN). The bill was referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, and specifically the Subcommittee on Health, on October 14, 2011.
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