Transcript Gut Symmetries: Propertising and Monetising FMT

Gut Symmetries: Propertising
and Monetising FMT
Caroline Wilson, Anura Consulting Ltd
([email protected])
Human microbiome = 10 to 100 trillion
symbiotic microbes harboured by each
person. Most of these microbes are
bacteria and most reside in the gut (the
gut biome).
About the gut biome
• It is only just becoming understood;
• It is important to the immune system and
digestion;
• An individual’s gut biome is not stable: certain
foods, alcohol and medications – particularly
antibiotics – can reduce biome diversity.
FMT = faecal microbiota
transplantation. The process of
transferring a bacteria-rich stool from a
healthy donor to a patient.
About FMT
• Growing research in this area (mostly U.S.), e.g.
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Crohn’s disease;
Depression;
Diabetes;
MS;
Obesity;
Parkinson’s disease;
• Good efficacy in treating recurrent clostridium
difficile colitis patients.
Regulating medical use of FMT
• Market authorisations (ethics and evidence);
• Standardisation of donations;
• Stool banks and ‘super donors’ – lessons from
HeLa;
• Screening and medical risks;
• Faeces: a tissue or biological product (a drug)?;
• Relevant that faeces contains the donor’s DNA?
‘Consumer-led’ FMT
• Will this happen?
• FMT is currently used as a niche
treatment…but… will it be seen as a weight-loss
and ‘wellness’ quick-fix?
Legal & moral issues of
consumer-led FMT
• Samples taken without permission, e.g.:
– Property rights in discarded waste;
– Property considerations in illicitly obtaining the
samples;
– Genetic privacy in DNA contained in samples;
– HeLa cell line: money vs morals.
Legal & moral issues of
consumer-led FMT
• Samples taken with permission, e.g.:
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The Moore case and the Mo cell line;
Informed consent and contract;
Trade marks;
Publicity rights?;
Cultural rights?;
Copyright analogies:
• Rewarding effort in ‘curating’ a healthy gut biome?;
• Moral rights analogy – antibiotics etc.?
Gut Symmetries: Propertising
and Monetising FMT
Caroline Wilson, Anura Consulting Ltd
([email protected])