EU's top court opens door to some stem cell patents

International Stem Cell

18/12/2014 08:53

BRUSSELS, Dec 18 (Reuters) - An organism incapable of 
developing into a human being is not a human embryo and may be 
patented, the European Union's top court said on Thursday, 
opening the door to certain stem cell patents in the European 
Union. 
    The court made this judgement following a case brought by  
U.S. company International Stem Cell Corporation  ISCO.PK  in 
Britain over whether it could patent processes covering the use 
of human egg cells.  
    "The mere fact that a parthenogenetically-activated human 
ovum commences a process of development is not sufficient for it 
to be regarded as a 'human embryo'," the European Court of 
Justice said.  
    The court said it left it to British judges to determine 
whether the organisms used by ISCO met these criteria. 
 
 (Reporting by Robert-Jan Bartunek; editing by Adrian Croft) 
 ((robertjan.bartunek@thomsonreuters.com; +32 2 2876850; Reuters 
Messaging: robert-jan.bartunek.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net)) 
 
Keywords: HEALTH STEMCELLS/EUROPE