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Biotech / Medical : Celera Genomics (CRA) -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Carter Patterson who wrote (157)	3/14/2000 8:25:00 PM
From: Rob Pierce	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 746

Tell me if I have this straight... So far, my understanding is that CRA is mapping the human genome. NIH is mapping the human genome. The two maps will likely have differences (albeit subtle differences), with differing comments and estimations of functions due to the distinctions in their mapping regimes. CRA's map will be available in the immediate future, while NIH's more thorough map will become available later. CRA would like to include NIH's data in the database, publish it jointly so that the combined data would be a more comprehensive source than the two individual databases. Here's where I think I'm most fuzzy on the controversy. CRA is negotiating to be allowed to market the combined database, but wants exclusive distribution rights??? Or is it that you can access and use data from the database (the genome is freely available), but if you use the CRA database you'll be liable to pay royalties on any commercial product due to use of the database??? NIH's (and thereby Clinton's) position is that no one should have to pay royalties on drugs / therapies developed based on the human genome database? If CRA's database will be made available soon enough in advance of NIH's, then those (large) pharmaceutical company's willing to pony up for CRA's database could get a substantial lead in developing therapies, which will be recovered by higher therapy costs, which will raise health costs (including to Medicare), which Clinton has been fighting a long time to reduce. Since negotiations failed between CRA and NIH, Clinton has taken a page from corporate America and "advertised" the "FREE" genome in an effort to buy time for NIH. Am I even >close< with this ... explanation???? BTW, though I'm new to this stock (bought at 133 this afternoon), I am familiar with the general competing genome project story. RP