European Patent Office

T 0820/92 (Contraceptive method) vom 11.01.1994

Europäischer Rechtsprechungsidentifikator
ECLI:EP:BA:1994:T082092.19940111
Datum der Entscheidung
11. Januar 1994
Aktenzeichen
T 0820/92
Antrag auf Überprüfung von
-
Anmeldenummer
87902913.0
IPC-Klasse
A61K 37/56
Verfahrenssprache
Englisch
Verteilung
Im Amtsblatt des EPA veröffentlicht (A)
Amtsblattfassungen
Weitere Entscheidungen für diese Akte
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Zusammenfassungen für diese Entscheidung
-
Bezeichnung der Anmeldung
Continuous delivery of luteinizing hormone releasing hormone compositions in combination with sex steroid delivery for use as a contraceptive
Name des Antragstellers
The General Hospital
Name des Einsprechenden
-
Kammer
3.3.02
Leitsatz

In the case of a method involving administration of two or more substances (here: an LHRH contraceptive composition and oestrogenic and/or progestational steroids) the question for the purposes of Article 52(4) EPC is not whether the main or even the only reason for carrying out the whole of the claimed method is non-therapeutic. Rather a method claim falls under the prohibition of Article 52(4) EPC already if the purpose of the administration of one of the substances is a treatment by therapy, and the administration of this substance is a feature of the claim (cf. point 5.9 of the Reasons).

Schlagwörter
Patentability of a contraceptive method involving a concurrent therapeutic step (no)
Presence of one step prohibited under Article 52(4) EPC prevents method being allowable
Orientierungssatz
-

ORDER

For these reasons, it has been decided that:

1. The decision under appeal is set aside.

2. The case is remitted to the first instance with the order that a patent be granted on the basis of the claims of the first auxiliary request submitted during the oral proceedings on 11 January 1994 and a description composed of pages 1 to 5, 7 to 10 and 12 to 16. as originally filed and pages 6 and 11 as filed with the letter of 14 October 1991.