Appeal No. 1997-2167
Application 08/137,444
of appellants' screening method for screening prospective drug
candidates for treatment of memory dysfunction characterized
by decreased cholinergic function. The examiner also
questions whether appellants use of the Dark Avoidance Test2
can reliably predict efficacy in humans of the claimed
compounds.
At page 2 of his Answer, the examiner has listed various
prior art references which serve as the evidence which
supports his rejection. Of all the listed prior art the
examiner has proffered as evidence in support of his
rejection, we find the article by Han et al. in the European
Journal of Medical Chemistry to be the most relevant reference
to the issues presented for our determination. Han et al.
acknowledges on page 673 that:
One of the more promising palliative approaches relates
to potentiating the activity of the central cholinergic
system. A decrease in central nervous system cholinergic
markers is the most consistent and well-documented
neurochemical change in Alzheimer's disease. Accordingly,
several pharmacological strategies to enhance central
cholinergic function are being explored: muscarinic
agonists, acetylcholine releasing agents and
cholinesterase inhibitors. [cites to the bibliography
omitted]
See page 6, line 27 through page 7, line 15 of the2
specification for an explanation of the Dark Avoidance Test.
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