Appeal No. 2006-1565 Page 2
Application No. 09/757,610
S-nitrosoglutathione and protein S-nitrosothiols to modulate [nitrosative stress], by
controlling the intracellular levels of low mass NO [(nitric oxide)] donor compounds and
preventing protein nitrosylation from reaching toxic levels” (id., pages 2-3). “[N]itrosative
stress” refers to “an impetus for NO or NO2 [(nitrogen dioxide)] group attachment to
proteins, nucleic acids or other biological molecules” (id., page 1).
According to appellants, “where glutathione-dependent formaldehyde
dehydrogenase is expressed to protect [pathologically proliferating cells] from nitrosative
stress” (id., page 19), “administering . . . a therapeutically effective amount of an inhibitor
of glutathione-dependent formaldehyde dehydrogenase” (id.) “selectively impos[es]
nitrosative stress to inhibit proliferation of pathologically proliferating cells” (id., page 22).
The Claims
Claims 8-14, the only claims remaining in the application, stand rejected under 35
U.S.C. § 112, first paragraph, as lacking enablement. Claims 8-11 and 13 are
representative of the subject matter on appeal and read as follows:
8. A method for treating a patient afflicted with pathologically proliferating cells,
said method comprising administering to said patient a therapeutically effective amount
of an inhibitor of glutathione-dependent formaldehyde dehydrogenase.
9. The method of Claim 8 where the pathologically proliferating cells comprise
pathologic bacteria or fungus and the patient is afflicted with a bacterial or fungal
infection which is mediated or caused by the pathologic bacteria or fungus and the
administering kills the pathologic bacteria or fungus or reduces the rate of proliferation of
the pathologic bacteria or fungus by at least 10%.
10. The method of Claim 8 where the pathologically proliferating cells are
pathologically proliferating mammalian cells and the administering kills the pathologically
proliferating mammalian cells or reduces the rate of proliferation of the pathologically
proliferating cells by at least 10%.
11. The method of Claim 10 wherein the pathologically proliferating mammalian
cells are cancer cells.
Page: Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Next
Last modified: November 3, 2007