Tag: stem cell

The European Patent Office (EPO) yesterday (27 November) ruled against allowing a patent on developing human stem cell cultures whose preparation involves the destruction of embryos. The decision may hamper stem cell research for commercial purposes, as companies may have little incentive to finance it without patent protection.

While outlining the ethical conditions for EU-funded human embryonic stem-cell research, a Commission advisory group has stressed that ethical differences of opinion on the issue have not yet been resolved.

An alliance of centre-right and Green MEPs is fiercely pushing for ethical safeguards on a proposed advanced therapies regulation, against a compromise package supported by the Commission, Council, business and patient organisations.

A European online registry for human embryonic stem-cell lines is expected to contribute to international standardisation and boost progress towards new medical therapies.

Scientists have found a way to create human embryonic stem cells without destroying embyros.

The UK presidency has announced that, based on discussions of the Competitiveness Council, it will present a compromise redraft of the Commission's proposal on FP7.

A Commission report concludes that there are no objective grounds for restrictions on traditional patent protection for inventions relating to sequences of human genes. However, other issues relating to ethics, to research and to economics have been raised. 

Passionate debates on biotechnology, stem cell research and cloning have shown that there is a need for open public dialogue on the ethical implications of scientific advances. With a view of furthering responsible research which respects fundamental ethical principles, the EU has taken a number of initiatives addressing ethical issues.

The Competitiveness Council on 26 November failed to come to an agreement on the controversial question of EU funding for stem cell research.

The EP on 19 November adopted its report on EU funding of stem cell research, going along with the Industry Committee's line of advocating a less restrictive approach than the Commission.