(19)

(11)

EP 0 915 984 A1

(12)

(43) Date of publication: 19.05.1999 Bulletin 1999/20 (21) Application number: 97923882.0 (22) Date of filing: 13.05.1997

(51) International Patent Classification (IPC):  C12N 15/ 09( . ) A01H 5/ 10( . ) C12N 5/ 10( . ) C12N 15/ 82( . ) A01H 5/ 00( . ) C07K 14/ 415( . ) C12N 9/ 12( . ) (86) International application number: PCT/EP1997/002443 (87) International publication number: WO 1997/043427 (20.11.1997 Gazette 1997/50)

(84) Designated Contracting States: AT BE CH DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LI LU MC NL PT SE (30) Priority: 14.05.1996 GB 19960010044 (71) Applicant: Novartis AG 4058 Basel (CH)	(72) Inventors: DE VRIES, Sape, Cornelis NL-6708 KS Wageningen (NL) SCHMIDT, Eduard, Daniel, Leendert NL-6813 ET Arnheim (NL) VAN HOLST, Gerrit, Jan NL-1602 DN Enkhuizen (NL) HECHT, Valerie, France, Gabrielle NL-6707 HA Wageningen (NL) (74) Representative: Becker, Konrad, et al  Novartis AG Geistiges Eigentum Konzern Patent- und Markenabteilung CH Postfach 4002 Basel 4002 Basel (CH)