(19)

(11)

EP 0 877 816 A1

(12)

(43) Date of publication: 18.11.1998 Bulletin 1998/47 (21) Application number: 97906470.0 (22) Date of filing: 31.01.1997

(51) International Patent Classification (IPC):  C12N 15/ 09( . ) A61K 39/ 095( . ) A61K 47/ 48( . ) C07K 14/ 22( . ) C12N 1/ 15( . ) C12P 21/ 04( . ) A61K 39/ 00( . ) A61K 39/ 385( . ) A61P 31/ 04( . ) C07K 19/ 00( . ) C12P 21/ 02( . ) (86) International application number: PCT/US1997/001687 (87) International publication number: WO 1997/028273 (07.08.1997 Gazette 1997/34)

(84) Designated Contracting States: AT BE CH DE DK ES FI FR GB IE IT LI LU NL SE (30) Priority: 01.02.1996 US 19960010972P 13.06.1996 US 19960020440P (71) Applicant: NORTH AMERICAN VACCINE, INC. Beltsville, MD 20705 (CA)

(72) Inventors: TAI, Joseph, Y. Fort Washington, PA 19034 (US) DONETS, Mikhail N. Potomac, MD 20878 (US) WANG, Ming-Der San Diego, CA 92129 (US) LIANG, Shu-Mei Bethesda, MD 20817 (US) POLVINO-BODNAR, Maryellen Annapolis, MD 21401 (US) MINETTI, Conceicao A., S., A. Silver Spring, MD 20906 (US) MICHON, Francis Laurel, MD 20723 (US) (74) Representative: Chapman, Paul William  Kilburn & Strode, 20 Red Lion Street London WC1R 4PJ London WC1R 4PJ (GB)