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(11)

EP 1 397 489 A2

(12)

(88) Date of publication A3: 08.01.2004 (43) Date of publication: 17.03.2004 Bulletin 2004/12 (21) Application number: 01926973.7 (22) Date of filing: 13.04.2001

(51) International Patent Classification (IPC)7: C12N 15/00, C12Q 1/68, A61K 48/00 (86) International application number: PCT/US2001/012130 (87) International publication number: WO 2001/079524 (25.10.2001 Gazette 2001/43)

(84) Designated Contracting States: AT BE CH CY DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LI LU MC NL PT SE TR (30) Priority: 13.04.2000 US 548449 07.12.2000 US 251810 P (71) Applicants: Medical University of South Carolina Charleston,South Carolina 29425 (US) The Penn State Research Foundation University Park, PA 16802 (US)

(72) Inventors: NORRIS, James, S. Mount Pleasant, SC 29464 (US) CLAWSON, Gary, A. Bethesda, MD 20816 (US) WESTWATER, Caroline Mt. Pleasant, SC 29464 (US) SCHOFIELD, David Mount Pleasant, SC 29464 (US) SCHMIDT, Michael, G. Mt. Pleasant, SC 29464 (US) HOEL, Brian Charleston, SC 29401 (US) DOLAN, Joseph Mount Pleasant, SC 29646 (US) PAN, Wei-Hua Hummelstown, PA 17036 (US) (74) Representative: Ford, Timothy James et al Kilburn & Strode20 Red Lion Street London WC1R 4PJ London WC1R 4PJ (GB)