Stem cell workaround in EU

The sky isn't falling for embryonic stem cell technologies in Europe. Despite a broad ruling by the European Court of Justice that products derived from embryonic stem cells cannot be patented, the scientific complexity of turning such cells into products should provide a high barrier to competition.

Additionally, new techniques that avoid embryo destruction, along with iPS and adult-derived stem cell sources, are not affected by the ruling and provide patentable avenues for developing stem cell-based therapies...