GALILEO is an outstanding satellite navigation and positioning project being funded by the European Union to the tune of 拢3 billion. It will be even more precise than the GPS network, which is run free of charge by the US under the auspices of the Pentagon. And there鈥檚 the rub because, as 快猫短视频 emphasised recently (30 March, p 5), the US wants the system tailored so that it won鈥檛 clash with American priorities. So, I asked ministers at the Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what the Americans think of this project.
John Spellar, the transport minister, replied that the US is very concerned about Galileo鈥檚 impact on its trade and security. In particular, it fears that Galileo鈥檚 signals will interfere or be incompatible with those from GPS. In the run-up to the European Commission鈥檚 Transport Council in March, Britain was keen to see that such concerns were taken into account. As a result, the council has now emphasised that Galileo is a civilian system and will not broadcast military signals. It will, however, be able to cooperate with the GPS civilian service, and its signals will be developed so that they don鈥檛 interfere with GPS. The EU and the US are negotiating a formal agreement to clarify the relationship between the two systems as regards civilian applications for navigation and positioning. Spellar says the US already has agreements with NATO and EU countries on the military applications of GPS.
Personally, I feel more comfortable that the EU will have a satellite positioning system that is independent of the American military, even if it means expensive and perhaps not strictly necessary duplication. That said, I am concerned the Pentagon could, if it so wished, interfere with Galileo鈥檚 signals.
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ANYONE who, like me, thinks that the patenting of gene sequences should not be allowed in any circumstances will be horrified by the news that a tobacco company has gained exclusive rights to develop and sell vaccines against lung cancer (快猫短视频, 17 November 2001, p 11). Japan Tobacco, which makes three of the world鈥檚 top-selling cigarette brands, has struck a deal with Corixa of Seattle, giving it a licence to develop vaccines based on patented genes which are uniquely active in lung cancer cells. It seems pretty cynical to me that a tobacco company should profit from any disease that might be caused by its own products.
Yvette Cooper, the junior health minister, tells me that the licence gives Japan Tobacco exclusive rights over the next three years to use Corixa鈥檚 technology to develop and sell vaccine and antibody-based products aimed at the prevention and/or treatment of lung cancer, principally in Japan and North America. Because the licence was granted outside the European patent law system, she says, it doesn鈥檛 give Japan Tobacco exclusive rights to deal in these products in EU member countries.
However, Cooper also says that in the government鈥檚 response to a report from the House of Lords Select Committee on Science and Technology inquiry on human genetic databases, it proposed that the effects, harmful or otherwise, of granting patents for genetic sequences should be investigated with regard to its consequences for research, access to medical treatments and the economics and growth of the biotechnology industry.
The minister adds that the government鈥檚 Human Genetics Commission will keep this carefully 鈥渦nder review鈥�, as will members of the standing committee on the Tobacco Advertising and Promotion Bill. The bill had its second reading on 29 April.