An anti-ESCR commentary in today's Washington Times includes this nugget:

Weldon said some researchers have a selfish motive for focusing on embryonic stem cells. "If you developed a highly successful intervention for treating sickle cell anemia with cord blood, that is not really a patentable intervention under our current laws," Mr. Weldon explained. But, he noted, someone who developed the same treatment with embryonic stem cells would become a millionaire.