CAMR: Anti-Patent Legislation Could Cripple Medical Research; Patient Groups, Researchers, Universities Voice Opposition 11/19/2003
From: Julie Kimbrough of the Coalition for the Advancement of Medical Research, 212-585-3501 WASHINGTON, Nov. 19 -- Today the Coalition for the Advancement of Medical Research (CAMR) voiced its opposition to an anti-patenting provision inserted, without debate, in the omnibus appropriation bill currently pending in Congress. The provision(a) seeks to prohibit the Patent Trademark Office from issuing "patents on claims directed to or encompassing a human organism." This overly broad language could severely cripple medical research which utilizes somatic cell nuclear transfer (more common called therapeutic cloning), to help find cures for some of life's most devastating diseases and conditions. CAMR, comprised of over 80 nationally recognized patient groups, universities, and scientific societies, led the charge to support federal funding of embryonic stem cell research and has led the efforts opposing a ban on therapeutic cloning. "This provision is just a hasty, back-door attempt to stifle therapeutic cloning research," said Michael Manganiello, President of CAMR. "The Senate had absolutely no discussion of this provision, there was no debate on the floor, neither the Senate nor the House had any hearings on this very complex subject. Indeed we fear many Members were denied the opportunity to fully grasp the impact of this provision," added Manganiello. The provision is unnecessary as the Patent Trademark Office standing policy is to deny patents on any subject matter that encompasses a human being. By removing the economic incentive to do stem cell and therapeutic cloning research, the provision effectively stops investment and research activity in the U.S. Other countries have made it clear they will grant patents for processes to derive stem cells and they will take the lead in this field. Americans will not have first access to the newest and potentially best treatments, and scientists may leave the U.S. to pursue the research elsewhere. "While we share the stated goal of this amendment, to prohibit human reproductive cloning, it is clear that this language goes far a field of that common goal," said Sean Tipton, vice president of communications, CAMR. "In the end, the effects of this provision could be so far reaching we may be grappling with the ramifications for years to come. And once again, 100 million Americans already suffering from horrific diseases and conditions will just have one more obstacle blocking their paths to potential cures," he added. Scientists believe embryonic stem cells may hold vast potential in the fight against deadly diseases. The cells, which can replicate themselves indefinitely, may some day be used to grow new tissue that will become the "missing link" needed to cure some of the world's most debilitating illnesses and conditions. Therapeutic cloning is fundamentally different from human reproductive cloning; therapeutic produces stem cells, not babies. In therapeutic cloning, the nucleus of a donor's unfertilized egg is removed and replaced with the nucleus of a patient's own cells, like a skin, heart, or nerve cell. NO sperm is used in this procedure. The cells are not transplanted into a womb. The unfertilized egg cells are stored in a petri dish to become a source of stem cells that can be used to treat currently incurable medical conditions. SCNT aims to treat or cure patients by creating tailor-made, genetically identical cells that their bodies won't reject. In other words, SCNT could allow patients to be cured using their own DNA. The Coalition for the Advancement of Medical Research (CAMR), is comprised of nationally recognized patient organizations, universities, scientific societies, foundations, and individuals with life-threatening illnesses and disorders, advocating for the advancement of breakthrough research and technologies in regenerative medicine -- including stem cell research and somatic cell nuclear transfer -- in order to cure disease and alleviate suffering. For more information on CAMR, visit the website: http://www.camradvocacy.org. --- Note a: The provision was included in the House-passed Commerce-Justice-State Appropriations bill (H.R. 2799), and has now been added to the Senate version of the Appropriations bill. | |