Patent rules force stem-cell research to seek alternatives

December 16, 2008

The European Patent Office (EPO) has finally refused to grant a patent for stem cells that necessarily involved the destruction of a human embryo. This has left open the question of whether human stem cells will be patentable if they derive from a method that does not involve human embryo destruction.

The European Patent Convention (EPC) is the overriding source of patent law for each of the 31 European states, including the UK. Inventions which are contrary to morality are prohibited by the EPC. (Scotsman)