(19)

(11)

EP 0 868 173 A1

(12)

(43) Date of publication: 07.10.1998 Bulletin 1998/41 (21) Application number: 95943632.0 (22) Date of filing: 30.11.1995

(51) International Patent Classification (IPC):  A61K 9/ 20( . ) A61K 31/ 137( . ) A61K 9/ 22( . ) (86) International application number: PCT/US1995/015587 (87) International publication number: WO 1997/019677 (05.06.1997 Gazette 1997/24)

(84) Designated Contracting States: AT BE CH DE DK ES FR GB GR IE IT LI LU MC NL PT SE (71) Applicant: Shire Laboratories Inc. Rockville, Maryland 20850 (US)	(72) Inventors: RUDNIC, Edward M. North Potomac, MD 20878 (US) McCARTY, John A. Biscayne Park, FL 33161 (US) BELENDUIK, George W. Potomac, MD 20854 (US) (74) Representative: LOUIS, PÖHLAU, LOHRENTZ & SEGETH  Postfach 3055 90014 Nürnberg 90014 Nürnberg (DE)