Science Committee to take evidence on impact of patenting on the commercialisation of regenerative research
The House of Lords Science and Technology Committee will next week take evidence from intellectual property experts on the impact of intellectual property and patent arrangements in the UK and Europe on the development of regenerative medicine.
The Committee will hear from:
- Sean Dennehey, Acting Chief Executive, Intellectual Property Office;
- Alex Denoon, Partner, Lawford Davies Denoon; and
- Professor Peter Andrews, Arthur Jackson Professor of Biomedical Science, University of Sheffield.
In the course of their inquiry into regenerative medicine the Committee has heard conflicting evidence on the importance of intellectual property protection to the commercialisation of regenerative medicine treatments. Some witnesses have suggested that suitable patent protection will be vital whilst others argued that the complexity of developing treatments would provide sufficient protection to ensure investment.
This session will seek to explore both legitimate and perception-based concerns regarding intellectual property particularly in the light of coverage of the European Court of Justice ruling on the Brüstle vs Greenpeace case on the patentability of human embryonic stem cells.
The evidence session will take place at 10.40am on Tuesday 27 November in Committee Room 4 of the House of Lords and will be webcast live at www.parliamentlive.tv.
The evidence session is also open to the public. Journalists wishing to attend should go to Parliament's Cromwell Green Entrance and should allow time for security screening.
