Appeal No. 1997-2510
Application No. 07/868,539
The examiner further finds (id.) that Uhlmann teaches “modifications to
the bases and base linkages … increase stability and serum half-life … [in
addition to] oligonuclotide modification to add interactive groups … and that
target sequences … include regions of the DNA where the regulatory DNA
binding proteins normally bind….” In addition, the examiner finds (Answer, page
9) that “Inouye discloses and claims pharmaceutical compositions containing
polynucleotide constructs with a stem … and a loop where the stem-loop
structure is targeted to a regulator (see for example the Inouye patent claims 1,
15 and 16).”
Appellant argues (Brief, page 15) that Bielinska does not suggest that
claimed DNA fragment that includes a sequence of DNA recognized by a viral-
specific transcription factor, and a covalent link between the complimentary
strands of DNA. In addition, appellant argues (id.) “the [e]xaminer has not
presented references suggesting that such an oligonucleotide may be effective in
inhibiting replication of the virus.”
In response, the examiner argues (Answer, page 30) this “comment is not
persuasive in view of the combined cited references where Vickers et al. do
indicate expectation and suggestion of inhibition of viral replication… The
23
Page: Previous 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 Next
Last modified: November 3, 2007