Recently, the US House of Representatives voted in favour of banning research on stem cells for both reproductive and therapeutic purposes. The proposed Human Cloning Prohibition Act of 2003 (the "Act") has yet to be enacted. If implemented, there will be huge concern amongst the US biotech industry as the Act will impact on current and future research into Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, cancer, spinal injuries and many other serious disorders.
In contrast, the UK has banned only human reproductive cloning, through the Human Reproductive Cloning Act 2001 but still allows therapeutic cloning, through the Human Fertilisation and Embryology (Research) Regulations 2001.
If the US ban is fully approved, then the UK may be a more attractive place for American researchers to carry out their therapeutic cloning research.
For further information please contact Stephen Whybrow on +44 (0)20 7367 2175, stephen.whybrow@cms-cmck.com or Nick Beckett on +44 (0)20 7367 2490, nick.beckett@cms-cmck.com or Andrew Whitworth on +44 (0)20 7367 3470, andrew.whitworth@cms-cmck.com.
