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(11)

EP 1 492 873 A2

(12)

(88) Date of publication A3: 20.11.2003 (43) Date of publication: 05.01.2005 Bulletin 2005/01 (21) Application number: 02787289.4 (22) Date of filing: 23.12.2002

(51) International Patent Classification (IPC)7: C12N 15/55, C12N 9/20, G01N 33/573, A61K 38/43 (86) International application number: PCT/CA2002/001998 (87) International publication number: WO 2003/055995 (10.07.2003 Gazette 2003/28)

(84) Designated Contracting States: AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LI LU MC NL PT SE SI SK TR Designated Extension States: AL LT LV MK RO (30) Priority: 21.12.2001 US 341786 P 10.01.2002 US 346603 P (71) Applicants: Wen, Xiao-Yan Toronto,Ontario M2M 1E1 (CA) Stewart, A., Keith Oakville,Ontario L6J 4H4 (CA) Tsui, Lap-Chee Hong Kong (CN) Hegele, Robert, A. London,Ontario N6A 2H2 (CA)

(72) Inventors: Wen, Xiao-Yan Toronto,Ontario M2M 1E1 (CA) Stewart, A., Keith Oakville,Ontario L6J 4H4 (CA) Tsui, Lap-Chee Hong Kong (CN) Hegele, Robert, A. London,Ontario N6A 2H2 (CA) (74) Representative: Hartz, Nikolai F., Dr. et al Wächtershäuser & HartzPatentanwälteWeinstrasse 8 80333 München 80333 München (DE)