Transatlantic Lessons in Regulation of Mitochondrial Replacement Therapy

Science, Vol. 348, Issue 6231, p.178, April 2015

3 Pages Posted: 25 Apr 2015

See all articles by I. Glenn Cohen

I. Glenn Cohen

Harvard Law School

Julian Savulescu

University of Oxford - Uehiro Centre for Practical Ethics

Eli Y Adashi

Brown University Medical School

Date Written: April 10, 2015

Abstract

Mutant mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) gives rise to a broad range of heritable clinical syndromes. A cure for those affected remains out of reach. However, recently developed mitochondrial replacement therapy (MRT, colloquially called “Three Parent IVF” in the press) has raised the prospect of disease-free progeny for women carriers. Moreover, the feasibility of replacing mutant oocytic or zygotic mtDNA with a donated wild-type counterpart in humans has now been firmly established. In the United Kingdom, legislation regulating the clinical application of MRT, now 10 years in the making, has recently been approved by the House of Commons and the House of Lords.

The regulatory vetting of MRT in the United States, under way for a year, remains a work in progress. Here, we compare and contrast the regulatory history of MRT in the United Kingdom and the United States and examine potential lessons learned.

Keywords: Mutant mitochondrial DNA, mtDNA, mitochondrial replacement therapy, MRT, Three Parent IVF, reproductive technologies, embryos, bioethics, UK, USA, EU law

Suggested Citation

Cohen, I. Glenn and Savulescu, Julian and Adashi, Eli Y, Transatlantic Lessons in Regulation of Mitochondrial Replacement Therapy (April 10, 2015). Science, Vol. 348, Issue 6231, p.178, April 2015, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2598275

I. Glenn Cohen (Contact Author)

Harvard Law School ( email )

1525 Massachusetts Avenue
Griswold Hall 503
Cambridge, 02138
United States

Julian Savulescu

University of Oxford - Uehiro Centre for Practical Ethics ( email )

10 Merton Street
Oxford OX1 3JP
United Kingdom
+44 1865 276926 (Phone)
+44 1865 276932 (Fax)

HOME PAGE: http://www.practicalethics.ox.ac.uk/juliansavulescu.html

Eli Y Adashi

Brown University Medical School ( email )

Providence, RI 02912
United States

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