Abstract
Is it possible to patent human embryonic stem cells (hESC)? This question plays a key role in the debate on the future of regenerative medicine in so far as patentability is an extremely important factor to ensure development of the human embryonic stem cell industry. However, this issue has been the subject of a large discussion in the framework of the European Patent Office, which is still to find a definitive answer. This chapter makes a historical exposition of the debate, including a diagnosis of the current situation. This includes a reasoned argument which concludes that hESC patents are currently allowed in the EU context if they are not derived from a cell or group of cells capable of developing into a human being, which is a definition that might well include non-viable fertilised human eggs.
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Acknowledgements
I would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge the support from the Spanish Ministry of Economy, awards DER 2013-41462-R and DER2015-68212-R.
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de Miguel Beriain, I. (2017). Patenting Human Embryonic Stem Cells in the European Union Context: An Updated Analysis of a Complex Issue. In: Pham, P., Rosemann, A. (eds) Safety, Ethics and Regulations. Stem Cells in Clinical Applications. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-59165-0_12
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-59165-0_12
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