Legal Implications of Therapeutic Options — Stem Cell Procedures, Cloning and Patents

Trying to keep pace with new perspectives for research, development of pharmaceuticals and medical treatment, the regulation of new therapeutic options in modern “bio-medicine” focuses on research involving embryos and embryonic stem cells1 as well as cloning techniques. Many States (especially in Europe) have adopted or initiated legislation on the production of embryonic stem cells, their importation and their use. Somatic gene therapy is not a subject of major legal controversy2. The germ-line therapy is still addressed rather as an uncanny manipulation of the natural order than as a tangible option for treating serious hereditary defects3. An overarching issue is an adequate patent regime for inventive contributions in the area of bio-medicine.