Ex parte MITA et al. - Page 4




              Appeal No. 1997-3135                                                                                      
              Application 08/208,497                                                                                    



              The active ingredient 2-phenyl-3-oxo-2H-1,4-benzothiazine compounds are spelled out by                    
              way of chemical formula in claim 9 on appeal.                                                             
                     According to the examiner, Fujita discloses that applicants' 2-phenyl-3-oxo-2H-1, 4-               
                                                 2+                                                                     
              benzothiazine compounds are Ca  antagonists or calcium channel blockers.  The                             
              examiner argues that Abelson discloses the use of calcium channel blockers for treating                   
              glaucoma by the sustained reduction of intraocular pressure in humans.  The examiner                      
              concludes that the combined disclosures of Fujita and Abelson would have led a person                     
              having ordinary skill to the claimed invention because: (1) it was known, at the time the                 
              invention was made, that applicants' 2-phenyl-3-oxo-2H-1,4-benzothiazine compounds                        
              were calcium channel blockers (Fujita); (2) it was known that calcium channel blockers                    
              were useful for treating glaucoma by the sustained reduction of intraocular pressure in                   
              humans (Abelson); and (3) therefore, it would have been obvious to a person having                        
              ordinary skill in the art to use applicants' 2-phenyl-3-oxo-2H-1,4-benzothiazine compounds                
              for treating glaucoma by administering an effective amount of such compound in                            
              combination with a pharmaceutically acceptable diluent or carrier to a patient suffering                  
              from glaucoma.  We disagree.                                                                              
                     The examiner's argument is flawed because it is unsupported by evidence of                         
              record.  The examiner's position to the contrary, notwithstanding, Abelson does not                       
              disclose using calcium channel blockers, generically, for treating glaucoma.  Rather,                     

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