A recent decision blocking the patenting of inventions which involve the destruction of human embryos is causing heated debate in the life sciences fraternity. Martin Hyden and Rosemarie Lee report
The patentability of human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) is a subject that has been taxing patent authorities and practitioners around the world for some time, raising difficult legal and ethical questions. While the issue has arisen in a number of cases in the past, the recent application for patent protection of inventions involving hESCs by the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation (WARF) has provided a focus for discussion, highlighting the different views on the subject, both within Europe and elsewhere.
