Stem cell and other genetically derived medicines with the potential to cure diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's could be made available in Ireland following a new regulation adopted by the European Parliament in Strasbourg yesterday. The regulation on advanced therapies puts in place EU-wide rules to ensure the safety, quality and effectiveness of any new medicine before it can be put on the market.
The scheme for marketing medicines was welcomed by Irish MEPs Proinsias De Rossa (Labour) and Avril Doyle (Fine Gael). However Independent MEP Kathy Sinnott said the move could lead to the destruction of human embryos, the fostering of a trade in body parts and the creation of human-animal hybrids. "The parliament has voted against protecting the human embryo and has excluded upholding subsidiarity [ allowing member states to make their own decision on the issue]."
Ms Sinnott's concerns were not relevant, Ms Doyle said. "This regulation is just dealing with the placing on the market of new medical therapies." Mr De Rossa said: "Kathy Sinnott's position is a disgrace. She is deliberately distorting the content and the intention of the regulation."