Appeal No. 1996-1009
Application No. 07/949,551
Naggi ‘881 describes a depolymerization and sulfation process of polysaccharides, including
heparin (col. 3, lines 3-7; col. 4, lines 4-5) and shows a pattern of relative molecular weights and
degree of sulfation similar to that in Naggi ‘063. For example, starting heparin D212 has a molecular
weight of 13,500 and a 1.95 degree of sulfation while products AH-16, AH-19, AH-104, AH-103,
AH-105, AH-106 and AH-107 have molecular weights of 6,000 and degree of sulfations of 3.0, 3.0,
2.9, 2.8, 3.0, 2.8 and 3.0, respectively.
Petitou describes a process of preparing highly sulfated or “sursulfated” heparin (col. 6, lines
40-49). According to the examiner, Petitou “does teach a product having molecular weight higher than
9000 daltons” (answer, page 10). However, Petitou also discloses that standard heparin has a
molecular weight of 15,000 (line 4 in the table bridging cols. 17-18).
Conti describes a process of preparing a low molecular weight supersulfated heparin by
reacting standard heparin with oleum (col. 1, lines 33-35; col. 2, lines 33-35; col. 3, lines 49-55).
According to the examiner,
Although it is acknowledged that none of the references explicitly mentions
angina pectoris, the references all deal with the treatment of cardiovascular disorders
directly related to angina. The examiner notes that angina pectoris is “chest pain
precipitated by deficient oxygenation of the heart muscles” (see “Websters’ Ninth New
Collegiate Dictionary”, page 85). Thus the treatment of the described conditions would
result in alleviation of the pain associated with such cardiovascular disorders. While no
single reference teaches each and every limitation of claim 15 regarding properties of
the heparin derivative, including the ability to enhance development of coronary
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