Violation of human dignity in human–animal chimeras

Human–animal chimeras and methods for their production are excluded from patentability under Article 53(a) EPC if the invention infringes human dignity. This is the case, for example, where the claimed subject-matter does not rule out that the human cells involved in a human/pig chimera integrate into the pig’s brain and/or develop into germ cells of the chimera, potentially leading to an organism with human or human-like capabilities (EPO BoA 4 Sep 2024, T 1553/22, Human-pig chimeras/UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA).