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Animal rights activists in Germany are contesting three patents on genetically engineered chimpanzees granted this year by the European Patent Office (EPO) in Munich. One of the challenges was filed today; the other two will follow shortly, says Ruth Tippe, a spokesperson for a German advocacy group called No Patents on Life.
"It is incomprehensible why the patent office would grant patents on these animals," Tippe told ScienceInsider in a phone conversation minutes after filing papers with EPO to oppose the first of the three patents.
Patent number EP1456346 was granted to Intrexon, a company based in Blacksburg, Virginia, in February. In it, the company claims to have invented a way to introduce into chimpanzees—as well as rats, rabbits, horses, and other animals—a system to switch specific genes on or off. The animals are intended for pharmaceutical research. "The patent does not show a clear medical benefit that can be weighed against the animals' suffering, and does not explain why chimpanzees are needed," Tippe says.
Instead of chimpanzees, other animals could be used, Tippe argues. "I'm against patents on any...
"It is incomprehensible why the patent office would grant patents on these animals," Tippe told ScienceInsider in a phone conversation minutes after filing papers with EPO to oppose the first of the three patents.
Patent number EP1456346 was granted to Intrexon, a company based in Blacksburg, Virginia, in February. In it, the company claims to have invented a way to introduce into chimpanzees—as well as rats, rabbits, horses, and other animals—a system to switch specific genes on or off. The animals are intended for pharmaceutical research. "The patent does not show a clear medical benefit that can be weighed against the animals' suffering, and does not explain why chimpanzees are needed," Tippe says.
Instead of chimpanzees, other animals could be used, Tippe argues. "I'm against patents on any...