(19)

(11)

EP 1 051 504 A2

(12)

(88) Date of publication A3: 23.09.1999 (43) Date of publication: 15.11.2000 Bulletin 2000/46 (21) Application number: 99907444.6 (22) Date of filing: 28.01.1999

(51) International Patent Classification (IPC)7: C12N 15/82, C12N 15/54, C12N 15/55, C12N 9/10, C12N 9/14, C12N 5/10, C12Q 1/68, G01N 33/50, A01H 5/00 (86) International application number: PCT/EP9900/556 (87) International publication number: WO 9938/986 (05.08.1999 Gazette 1999/31)

(84) Designated Contracting States: AT BE CH CY DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LI LU MC NL PT SE (30) Priority: 30.01.1998 US 109810 P (71) Applicants: Novartis AG 4058 Basel (CH) Novartis-Erfindungen Verwaltungsgesellschaft m.b.H. 1235 Wien (AT)	(72) Inventors: GUYER, Charles, David Durham, NC 27707 (US) JOHNSON, Marie, Ann Raleigh, NC 27606 (US) VOLRATH, Sandra, Lynn Durham, NC 27707 (US) BRUNN, Sandra, Alice San Jose, CA 95123 (US) WARD, Eric, Russell Durham, NC 27707 (US)