Appeal No. 2005-0731 Page 3
Application No. 09/974,712
modulate, i.e., act as agonists or antagonists, of NHP expression and/or NHP activity
. . . . Such compounds can be used as therapeutic agents for the treatment of a wide
variety of symptoms associated with biological disorders or imbalances.” Page 3.
The specification discloses that two polymorphic positions were identified in SEQ
ID NO:2. Page 16, lines 24-32. In the Sequence Listing, the purportedly polymorphic
positions are shown to be occupied by only a single nucleotide in SEQ ID NO:1 and
only a single amino acid in SEQ ID NO:2; that is, the Sequence Listing does not reflect
the purportedly polymorphic nature of the two positions.
The specification states that “suitably labeled NHP nucleotide probes can be
used to screen a human genomic library using appropriately stringent conditions or by
PCR. The identification and characterization of human genomic clones is helpful for
identifying polymorphisms . . . , determining the genomic structure of a given
locus/allele, and designing diagnostic tests.” Page 11.
The specification also states that “[t]he NHP proteins or peptides, NHP fusion
proteins, NHP nucleotide sequences, host cell expression systems, antibodies,
antagonists, agonists and genetically engineered cells and animals can be used for
screening for drugs . . . effective in the treatment of the symptomatic or phenotypic
manifestations of perturbing the normal function of a NHP in the body.” Page 15. Or
“the NHP products can be used as therapeutics. For example, soluble derivatives such
as NHP peptides/domains corresponding to NHPs, . . . NHP antibodies . . ., antagonists
or agonists . . . can be used to directly treat diseases or disorders.” Pages 15-16.
The NHP protein is disclosed to be useful “in assays for screening for
compounds that can be used as pharmaceutical reagents useful in the therapeutic
Page: Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Next
Last modified: November 3, 2007