The following information is from the MRC 'policy watch' 6th
December
European Court of Justice ruling banning patents on inventions
involving human embryonic stem cells
The MRC’s chief executive Professor Sir
John Savill has authored an opinion piece in Research Fortnight
about
the recent European Court of Justice ruling
banning patents on inventions involving human embryonic stem cells
(hESCs) (Research Fortnight, 30 November). Sir John said: “Whatever
unfortunate obstacles this ruling may have created, UK stem cell
research is at a very exciting stage. The MRC’s strategic
investment over the past few years is beginning to bear fruit, with
a pipeline of more than 20 clinical-grade hESC lines now starting
to be deposited in the UK Stem Cell Bank. The first hESC clinical
trial in the UK to treat age-related macular degeneration has just
started, with the promise of more to follow. I am confident that
continued advances, coupled with public investment from
organisations such as the MRC, will pave the way for future
commercial investment and ultimately deliver the regenerative
therapies of the future.”