(19)

(11)

EP 1 296 677 A2

(12)

(88) Date of publication A3: 29.08.2002 (43) Date of publication: 02.04.2003 Bulletin 2003/14 (21) Application number: 01965014.2 (22) Date of filing: 20.06.2001

(51) International Patent Classification (IPC)7: A61K 31/41, A61K 9/20 (86) International application number: PCT/EP0106/983 (87) International publication number: WO 0109/7805 (27.12.2001 Gazette 2001/52)

(84) Designated Contracting States: AT BE CH CY DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LI LU MC NL PT SE TR Designated Extension States: AL LT LV MK RO SI (30) Priority: 22.06.2000 US 599687 (71) Applicants: Novartis AG 4056 Basel (CH) BE CH CY DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LU MC NL PT SE TR LI  Novartis Pharma GmbH 1230 Wien (AT) AT	(72) Inventors: GANTER, Sabina, Maria 79365 Rheinhausen (DE) WAGNER, Robert, Frank Neshanic Station, NJ 08853 (US) (74) Representative: Gros, Florent et al Novartis AG 4002 Basel 4002 Basel (CH)