Appeal No. 2003-0865 Page 3
Application No. 09/300,789
Background
The specification discloses “a method of preventing or delaying the onset
and progression of Alzheimer’s disease and related neurodegenerative
disorders. The method involves the administration to individuals at risk of
developing the disease a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agent and/or a
histamine H2 receptor blocking agent.” Page 1. Exemplary nonsteroidal anti-
inflammatory agents include acetylsalicylic acid (aspirin) and ibuprofen. See
pages 9-10. Exemplary histamine H2 receptor blocking agents include ranitidine
(Zantac®). Page 10.
The specification theorizes that
both nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents and histamine H2
receptor blocking agents may inhibit the pathogenesitic process of
Alzheimer’s disease . . . via processes mediated by COX
[cyclooxygenase], including excitatory events in the n-methyl-d-
aspartate (NMDA) pathway. . . . Under aberrant conditions (eg
[sic], excessive stimulation), the NMDA pathway can induce
excitotoxic cell death. . . . The fact that both nonsteroidal anti-
inflammatory agents and H2 blockers prevent or delay the onset of
Alzheimer’s disease may result from the involvement of COX and
the NMDA pathway in development of the disease.
Pages 12-13. Based on this observation, the specification speculates that
“inhibition of Alzheimer’s disease pathogenesis can be expected to be effected
using compounds, other than those described above, that similarly impact on the
NMDA pathway and thereby protect against neuronal cell death that may
underlie the neurodegeneration of Alzheimer’s disease and related disorders.”
Pages 13-14.
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Last modified: November 3, 2007