Search

Discusses a legal case about whether a plasmid discovered at and patented by the University of California at San Francisco contributed to the early success of Genentech, Inc. Evidence of the conflict in the pages of `Nature'; How the case shows the commercial pressures on the biotechnology industry.

The article reports on the allegation of a former U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) scientist to the agency's officials and researchers at the University of Georgia regarding the fabrication of false data in Athens, Greece. The former scientists is alleging the agency's researchers and officials that they invented and published false data to support the application of potentially harmful sewage sludges as fertilizers. The False Claims Act lawsuit brought by microbiologist David Lewis states that University of Georgia researchers and EPA officials fraudulently organized a grant and then manufactured data to assure that the EPA's biosolids programme would appear smelling pretty.

Describes progress in the legal case in which the University of California, San Francisco, alleges that Genentech Inc. infringed on its patent for DNA for human growth hormone. Hormone leading to the development of the drug Protropin; Views of Genentech executives about the case; Details about key testimony; Problems with a paper published in `Nature' related to the case; Colleagues who have had to tesify against one another. INSET: Who's telling the truth about crucial plasmid?.