"Somatic cell nuclear transfer does not relate to cloning, and the people who call it therapeutic cloning are creating a lot of confusion, because it is not cloning at all, and it certainly is not reproductive cloning, " Specter said.

CNN: Democrat blocks Senate debate of cloning ban

The newspaper said the Supreme Court ruling had "clarified that it does not mean no minor variations are patentable - that assessment depends on the therapeutic efficacy".

BBC: Novartis case: Media hail 'key victory' for India