Stem cell patent ban opposed by scientists
Research scientists hit out at an ECJ case they say could block development of embryonic stem cell-based therapies in Europe
Research scientists hit out at an ECJ case they say could block development of embryonic stem cell-based therapies in Europe
The ECJ’s advocate general has said all patents on embryonic stem cell-related technologies should be banned on moral grounds, but in a letter in the journal Nature and during a briefing in London, leading stem cell scientists said that could spell disaster for drug firms seeking treatments for conditions such as blindness and spinal chord injuries.
“If the ECJ was to follow this opinion, the reality is that all patents in Europe that relate to human embryonic stem cells will be eliminated,” said Austin Smith of the Centre for Stem Cell Research in Cambridge, one of letter’s 13 signatories.
Two US companies – Advanced Cell Technology and Geron – have recently won regulatory approval for late-stage human trials of therapies using human embryonic stem cells, and many other companies are pursuing aspects of stem cell research in Europe.
These include US drugs giant Pfizer, the Anglo-Swedish firm AstraZeneca, Swiss drugmaker Roche, the French company Cellectis and a small Italian biotech called Avantea.
