Research News: Embryonic Stem Cells

It appears that a new European court ruling suggests that procedures that use embryonic stem cells cannot be patented. This has the knock-on effect that comapnies cannot directly profit from such discovery. However it should not mean that this is the end of stem cell research in Europe.

According to "The Guardian" the decision from the European court results form a legal clarification for a court case brought by Greenpeace against a German Scientist, who patented a way to turn stem cells into healthy brain cells. The courts have always been cautious about patenting biologic processes. Does this mean that there will be no UK effort in these areas for stem cell treatments in MS. I doubt it, very much. The UK will continue to move forwards. However remember that MS is a global problem and can benefit from scientific endevours in an country, whether it be in USA, Asia or Timbuktu. Embryonic stem cells are a small part of the effort in this area.

CoI. I'm no stem cell expert