Appeal No. 2004-0543 Page 8
Application No. 10/010,678
transdermally administering a 5-α-reductase inhibitor; claim 30 specifies administration
by transdermal skin patch; claim 33 specifies that the 5-α-reductase inhibitor is 17β-(N-
tert-butylcarbamoyl)-4-aza-5α-androst-1-ene-3-one), otherwise known as Afinasteride;@
claim 36 is directed to a skin patch comprising a 5-α-reductase inhibitor.
Goldman teaches that androgenic alopecia/male pattern baldness can be treated
topically or systemically with a combination of three agents: a vasodilator; an estradiol;
and 5-α-reductase inhibitor (column 2, lines 42-46; column 6, lines 5-9). AA highly
preferred inhibitor of . . . 5-α-reductase for use in [Goldman=s] compositions and
methods@ (column 5, lines 43-44), indeed the only 5-α-reductase inhibitor specifically
mentioned, is finasteride (column 5, lines 43-62). While Aeach agent of the combination
need not be administered in the same manner@ (column 2, lines 65-67), Ain a highly
preferred embodiment the selected agents are administered from a single vehicle in unit
dosage form, including tablet, capsule, and transdermal patches or preparation@
(column 3, lines 7-10).
While Goldman does not specifically describe incorporating a 5-α-reductase
inhibitor into a transdermal skin patch and using the patch to treat androgenic alopecia,
he explicitly suggests doing just that. Moreover, Goldman identifies finasteride as a
Ahighly preferred@ 5-α-reductase inhibitor for this purpose. It would have been obvious
for one skilled in the art to have treated androgenic alopecia by transdermal
administration of a pharmaceutical preparation, e.g., a transdermal skin patch,
comprising a 5-α-reductase inhibitor, e.g., finasteride, in view of Goldman=s explicit
suggestions.
TIME PERIOD FOR RESPONSE
This decision contains a new ground of rejection pursuant to 37 CFR ' 41.50(b)
Page: Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Next
Last modified: November 3, 2007