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(11)

EP 1 210 426 A2

(12)

(88) Date of publication A3: 14.03.2002 (43) Date of publication: 05.06.2002 Bulletin 2002/23 (21) Application number: 00958842.7 (22) Date of filing: 08.09.2000

(51) International Patent Classification (IPC)7: C12N 15/12, C12Q 1/68, C12N 15/63, C07K 14/47 (86) International application number: PCT/GB0003/457 (87) International publication number: WO 0120/031 (22.03.2001 Gazette 2001/12)

(84) Designated Contracting States: AT BE CH CY DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LI LU MC NL PT SE Designated Extension States: AL LT LV MK RO SI (30) Priority: 10.09.1999 GB 9921485 14.03.2000 GB 0006171 (71) Applicant: KYOWA HAKKO KOGYO CO., LTD. Chiyoda-ku,Tokyo 100-8185 (JP)

(72) Inventors: HASEGAWA, KazuhideKyowa Hakko Kogyo Co. Ltd. Machida-shiTokyo 194-0023 (JP) KIKUCHI, YasuhiroKyowa Hakko Kogyo Co. Ltd. Machida-shiTokyo 194-0023 (JP) NAKANO, HirofumiKyowa Hakko Kogyo Co. Ltd. Machida-shiTokyo 194-0023 (JP) MOLLOY, Helen ImpingtonCambridge CB4 9XN (GB) CHIANO, Mathias RoystonHertfordshire SG8 5SY (GB) (74) Representative: Denholm, Anna Marie  D Young & Co.,21 New Fetter Lane London EC4A 1DA London EC4A 1DA (GB)