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EP 1 212 077 A2

(12)

(88) Date of publication A3: 27.12.2001 (43) Date of publication: 12.06.2002 Bulletin 2002/24 (21) Application number: 00969260.9 (22) Date of filing: 15.09.2000

(51) International Patent Classification (IPC)7: A61K 38/13, A61K 31/44, A61K 31/425, A61K 31/195, A61K 31/64, A61K 31/155, A61P 3/00 (86) International application number: PCT/EP0009/074 (87) International publication number: WO 0121/159 (29.03.2001 Gazette 2001/13)

(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: 17.09.1999 US 398364 07.04.2000 US 545480 26.08.2000 GB 0021055 (71) Applicants: Novartis AG 4056 Basel (CH) BE CH DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LI LU MC NL PT SE CY  Novartis-Erfindungen Verwaltungsgesellschaft m.b.H. 1230 Wien (AT) AT

(72) Inventors: GATLIN, Marjorie, Regan Wilmington, DE 19806 (US) BALL, Michele Kendall Park, NJ 08824 (US) MANNION, Richard, Owen Carmel, NY 10512 (US) KARNACHI, Anees, Abdulquadar Hillsborough, NJ 08844 (US) GUITARD, Christiane F-68220 Hégenheim (FR) ALLISON, Malcolm CH-4058 Basel (CH) (74) Representative: Becker, Konrad et al Novartis AG,Corporate Intellectual Property,Patent & Trademark Department 4002 Basel 4002 Basel (CH)