(19)

(11)

EP 0 915 976 A2

(12)

(43) Date of publication: 19.05.1999 Bulletin 1999/20 (21) Application number: 97944479.0 (22) Date of filing: 26.09.1997

(51) International Patent Classification (IPC):  C12N 15/ 10( . ) C12N 15/ 81( . ) C12N 15/ 63( . ) C12Q 1/ 68( . ) (86) International application number: PCT/US1997/017276 (87) International publication number: WO 1998/013502 (02.04.1998 Gazette 1998/13)

(84) Designated Contracting States: AT BE CH DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LI LU MC NL PT SE (30) Priority: 27.09.1996 US 19960721730 (71) Applicants: ICOS CORPORATION Bothell, WA 98201 (US) OREGON HEALTH SCIENCES UNIVERSITY Portland, OR 97201-3098 (US)	(72) Inventors: HOEKSTRA, Merl F. Snohomish, WA 98290 (US) GOODMAN, Richard H. Lake Oswego, OR 97034-7382 (US) (74) Representative: Gowshall, Jonathan Vallance  FORRESTER & BOEHMERT Franz-Joseph-Strasse 38 80801 München 80801 München (DE)