• Question: if we could patent our stem cell research, how much would it be worth?

    Asked by appleinc to Anzy, Aoife, Dave, Matt, Tomasz on 12 Nov 2013.
    • Photo: Matthew Tomlinson

      Matthew Tomlinson answered on 12 Nov 2013:

      Hi appleinc

      I can’t give an exact answer but I’m sure it’s in the billions, there are so many potential treatments that could come from stem cell research that it has to be billions, for example in the UK we spend about £800 million a year on broken bones that don’t heal alone and stem cell treatments could be used to help heal these fractures, reducing the overall cost to the NHS dramatically.

      I think there are issues with patenting stem cell research because some people patent things just to stop others doing the same thing but overall I think they are necessary so companies invest in the treatments.

      Really great question!

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