ENGVALL et al. V. DAVID et al. - Page 50




                ampicillin. It was not necessary, therefore, for Silvestri to prove express recognition of all of the                      
                “language” of the count because he proved he had actual possession of the specific compound that                           
                constituted the subject matter of the count and recognized the existence of that new composition.                          
                The court’s conclusion was consistent with the long standing principle that a chemical compound and                        
                all of its properties are one and the same thing.  In re Papesch, 315 F.2d 381, 391, 137 USPQ 43, 51                       
                (CCPA 1963).                                                                                                               
                        The facts here are substantially different than in Silvestri.  Silvestri did not prove recognition                 
                and appreciation of two limitations of the count: (1) greater storage-stability than hydrated ampicillin                   
                and (2) a molecular weight of about 349.  In concluding that Silvestri had actually reduced the                            
                invention to practice, the CCPA recognized this lack of proof but noted that the properties “add                           
                nothing to  the  count  definition  beyond  that  determined  by  the  water  content  and  infrared                       
                spectrograph.” 496 F.2d at 599, 181 USPQ at 709.  In other words, the references to  storage-                              
                stability and molecular weight added information about the subject matter of the count, ampicillin,                        
                but did not change the scope of that subject matter.  No subject matter was added or deleted from                          
                the count definition by the addition of the reference to storage-stability and molecular weight.  With                     
                respect to the subject matter of this interference, the limitation “at least about 10  liters/mole” does8                                    
                not merely add further information.  It effects the scope of the subject matter of the count.  It                          
                eliminates from the subject matter of the count those monoclonal antibodies which have affinity                            
                constants for the antigen of interest of less than about 10  liters/mole.  It is necessary, therefore, for8                                                              
                Engvall to prove a contemporaneous recognition and appreciation that both monoclonal antibodies                            
                used in the alleged actual reductions to practice had an affinity constant of at least about 108                           
                liters/mole.                                                                                                               
                       We also note that Engvall, in arguing that a conception of the use of “high affinity”                              
                monoclonal antibodies is close enough, is, in effect, trying to amend the subject matter of the                            
                interference without filing an appropriate preliminary motion.  Engvall is, in effect, trying to amend                     
                the count to read “employing monoclonal antibodies having a high affinity for the antigenic substance                      
                for each of said labeled antibody and said antibody bound to a solid carrier.”  The appropriate course                     
                of action for Engvall would have been to file a preliminary motion to amend the subject matter of the                      
                interference by substituting a count having the appropriate generic language.  And Engvall had the                         

                                                                    47                                                                     





Page:  Previous  43  44  45  46  47  48  49  50  51  52  53  54  55  56  57  Next 

Last modified: November 3, 2007