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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.– 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.:– 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])
