Ex Parte Arbiser - Page 14

                 Appeal No. 2007-0091                                                                                 
                 Application No. 09/765,491                                                                           

                 treatment of skin disorders selected from” a group that includes                                     
                 “lymphangiogenesis.”                                                                                 
                        Based on the evidence of record, however, lymphangiogenesis does                              
                 not appear to be a skin disorder, or a disorder of any kind for that matter.                         
                 Jussila describes lymphangiogenesis as a normal process by which new                                 
                 lymphatic vessels are formed (page 677).  Jussila states that “[a]bnormal                            
                 function of the lymphatic vessels is implicated” in certain diseases but does                        
                 not describe lymphangiogenesis itself as a disorder in need of treatment (id.).                      
                 Likewise, in Figure 6, Jussila suggests “VEGFR-3 inhibitors” for treating                            
                 “lymphangioma” and “lymphangiosarcoma,” but not for treating                                         
                 lymphangiogenesis itself.                                                                            
                        Claims 4-6 are directed to a method of treating symptoms of various                           
                 disorders by administering certain compounds to an “individual in need of                            
                 treatment thereof.”  Since lymphangiogenesis does not appear to be a skin                            
                 disorder, or any other kind of disorder in need of treatment, it is unclear                          
                 what individuals are in need of treatment for lymphangiogenesis.  The                                
                 claims are indefinite because it is unclear what patient populations are                             
                 encompassed by the claimed therapeutic method.                                                       
                        Appellant has argued that “[l]ymphangiogenesis has been implicated                            
                 in a number of skin disorders, including Kaposi’s sarcoma . . . ,                                    
                 lymphangiomas . . . , neoplasm metastasis, edema, rheumatoid arthritis, and                          
                 psoriasis.”11                                                                                        

                                                                                                                     
                 11 This argument was made in a paper styled “Submission in Response to                               
                 Questions Newly Raised During Oral Argument,” which was filed after the                              
                 oral hearing in this appeal.  The paper has been entered into the                                    
                                                         14                                                           

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