(19)

(11)

EP 0 946 869 A1

(12)

(43) Date of publication: 06.10.1999 Bulletin 1999/40 (21) Application number: 97947809.0 (22) Date of filing: 09.12.1997

(51) International Patent Classification (IPC):  A61K 31/ 00( . ) G01N 33/ 68( . ) G01N 33/ 50( . ) (86) International application number: PCT/GB1997/003399 (87) International publication number: WO 1998/027426 (25.06.1998 Gazette 1998/25)

(84) Designated Contracting States: AT BE CH DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LI LU MC NL PT SE (30) Priority: 17.12.1996 GB 19960026177 (71) Applicant: THE UNIVERSITY OF ABERDEEN Aberdeen AB2 1RY, Scotland (GB)	(72) Inventors: ASHFORD, Michael, Lawrence, James Ellon Aberdeenshire AB41 9BD (GB) HERSON, Paco, Samuel Aberdeen AB24 3DS (GB) (74) Representative: Ablett, Graham Keith, et al  Ablett & Stebbing, Caparo House, 101-103 Baker Street London W1M 1FD London W1M 1FD (GB)