Tuesday 27th November 2001

Dear Madam/Sir,

The temporary committee on Human Genetics of the European Parliament has recently completed its "Report on the ethical, legal, economic and social implications of human genetics ", which will be put to the vote of the parliament on 29 November.

In reaction, the European Society of Human Genetics (ESHG) sent you a letter in which it expressed its worries about several measures modified by the parliament in its amendments. These proposals risk to close the door on very promising research into treatments for currently untreatable diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease.

Euroscience, an independent association for the promotion of science, supports the call for modifications formulated by the ESHG. Euroscience considers in particular necessary the continuation of a carefully framed human embryonic stem cells research which represents a vital hope for numerous patients, as well as we support adult stem cells research, which have however yet to prove a similar therapeutic potential.
See the accompanying press release

Euroscience therefore considers the current proposals submitted to the parliament as extremely negative and urges you not to accept the current Fiori report in its present state.

We are of course at your disposal for further information.

Yours sincerely,

Frédéric Sgard, Ph.D.
Member of Euroscience Governing Board
Sanofi-Synthélabo
10 Rue des Carrières
92500 Rueil-Malmaison, France