T 0233/96 (Adrenaline/MEDCO RESEARCH) of 04.05.2000
- European Case Law Identifier
- ECLI:EP:BA:2000:T023396.20000504
- Date of decision
- 4 May 2000
- Case number
- T 0233/96
- Petition for review of
- -
- Application number
- 89303960.2
- IPC class
- A61K 31/70
- Language of proceedings
- English
- Distribution
- Distributed to board chairmen and members (B)
- Download
- Decision in English
- OJ versions
- No OJ links found
- Other decisions for this case
- -
- Abstracts for this decision
- -
- Application title
- Use of adenosine and its derivatives in diagnosis
- Applicant name
- MEDCO RESEARCH INC
- Opponent name
- -
- Board
- 3.3.02
- Headnote
- -
- Relevant legal provisions
- European Patent Convention Art 56 1973
- Keywords
- Novelty (yes): after limitation
Inventive step (no): claimed diagnostic application of adenosine obvious in view of its known diagnostic and therapeutic application
Second auxiliary request: reference to
no novel diagnostic application - Catchword
- If the use of a compound was known in the treatment or diagnosis of a disease of a particular group of subjects, the treatment or diagnosis of the same disease with the same compound could nevertheless represent a novel therapeutic or diagnostic application, provided that it is carried out on a new group of subjects which is distinguished from the former by its physiological or pathological status (T 0019/86, T 0893/90).
This does not apply, however if the group chosen overlaps with the group previously treated or the choice of the novel group is arbitrary which means that no functional relationship does exist between the particular physiological or pathological status of this group of subjects (here humans who are unable to exercise adequately) and the therapeutic or pharmacological effect achieved.
ORDER
For these reasons it is decided that:
The appeal is dismissed.