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REMARKS
`
`Favorable reconsideration is respectfully requested in view of the foregoing amendments
`
`and following remarks.
`
`Applicants express their sincere appreciation to the Examiner for her courtesy and helpful
`
`assistance provided to the Applicants' undersigned representative and representative Dr. Toan
`
`Vo during the telephone interview held on September 18, 2013.
`
`The foregoing amendments are presented according to the discussion with the Examiner,
`
`and for the reasons discussed during the interview, are believed to overcome all grounds of
`
`rejection.
`
`I.
`
`INFORMALITIES
`
`In item 5 and 7 of the Office Action summary page, it is respectfully requested that the
`
`pending claims be corrected to claims 19-48.
`
`In item 12 of the Office Action summary page, it is respectfully requested that the claim
`
`of foreign priority be acknowledged, and receipt of the certified copy of the priority document be
`
`acknowledged, which copy is present in the Image File Wrapper.
`
`II.
`
`SUPPORT FOR AMENDED CLAIMS
`
`Claims 19,27 and 32 are amended to specify that "the first component is the sole
`
`pharmaceutical active ingredient contained in the preparation;". This amendment is supported
`
`by page 7 (lines 14-17) and page 13 (lines 11-13) of the specification, which teaches that the
`
`claimed preparation may be prepared with 2-amino-3-( 4-bromobenzoyl)phenylacetic acid or a
`
`pharmacologically acceptable salt thereof or a hydrate thereof (hereinafter "bromfenac"), and
`
`with "other same or different kind of active ingredients" so long as the purpose of the present
`
`invention is achieved. Thus, a preparation containing bromfenac as the sole active ingredient is
`
`clearly taught by the specification.
`
`The amendment is further supported by the Examples of the specification which teach
`
`compositions having bromfenac as the sole pharmaceutical active ingredient contained in the
`
`preparation. The first specific composition taught in the specification is found in Experimental
`
`Example 1 (pages 14-15). The sole pharmaceutical active ingredient contained in the preparation
`
`is Sodium 2-amino-3-( 4-bromobenzoyl)phenylacetate, i.e. bromfenac.
`
`9
`
`

`
`The second specific composition taught in the specification is found in Experimental
`
`Example 2 (pages I6-I8). The sole pharmaceutical active ingredient contained in the preparation
`
`is Sodium 2-amino-3-( 4-bromobenzoyl)phenylacetate, i.e. bromfenac.
`
`The third specific composition taught in the specification is found in Example I (page
`
`2I). The sole pharmaceutical active ingredient contained in the preparation is Sodium 2-amino-
`
`3-( 4-bromobenzoyl)phenylacetate 3/2 hydrate, i.e. bromfenac.
`
`The fourth specific composition taught in the specification is found in Example 2 (page
`
`22). The sole pharmaceutical active ingredient contained in the preparation is Sodium 2-amino-
`
`3-( 4-bromobenzoyl)phenylacetate 3/2 hydrate, i.e. bromfenac.
`
`The fifth and final specific composition taught in the specification is found in Example 3
`
`(page 23). The sole pharmaceutical active ingredient contained in the preparation is Sodium 2-
`
`amino-3-( 4-bromobenzoyl)phenylacetate 3/2 hydrate, i.e. bromfenac.
`
`In summary, a preparation containing bromfenac as the sole active ingredient is clearly
`
`taught by the specification. Thus, the amendment to claims I9, 27 and 32 is clearly supported by
`
`the specification.
`
`A minor error has been corrected in claim 25 which is evident from claim 3I.
`
`Claims 44-48 are amended to specify the preservative efficacy standard ofEP-criteria B
`
`of the European Pharmacopoeia, which is explicitly supported on page 20, last line, to page 2I of
`
`the specification. Thus, the claims are amended to recite "as follows:
`
`viable cell counts ofbacteria (S. aureus. P.aeruginosa) 24 hours and 7 days after
`
`inoculation decrease to not more than Ill 0 and not more than Ill 000, respectively, and
`
`thereafter, the cell count levels off or decreases; and
`
`viable cell count of fungi (C. albicans. A. niger) I4 days after inoculation decreases to
`
`not more than Ill 0, and thereafter, the cell count keeps the same level as that of I4 days after
`
`inoculation".
`
`III. REJECTION OF CLAIMS 44-48 UNDER 35 U.S.C. 112
`
`Claims 44-48 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. II2, second paragraph, as being indefinite for
`
`the recitation of the standard ofEP-criteria B of the European Pharmacopoeia.
`
`This ground of rejection is deemed to be overcome by the foregoing amendments.
`
`IO
`
`

`
`IV.
`
`REJECTION OF CLAIMS 19, 21-24, 26, 28-30, 32, 34-36, 38, 40-42 and 44-48
`
`UNDER 35 U.S.C. § 103(a) BASED UPON GAMACHE
`
`A. Claims 19, 21-24, 32, 34-36, 38, 40-42, 44 and 46-48
`
`Claims 19, 27 and 32 now recite that the preparation comprises the first component, 2-
`
`amino-3-( 4-bromobenzoyl)phenylacetic acid or a pharmacologically acceptable salt thereof or a
`
`hydrate thereof (i.e. "bromfenac"), as the sole pharmaceutical active ingredient contained in the
`
`preparation.
`
`Gamache does not teach or suggest any preparation comprising bromfenac as the sole
`
`pharmaceutical active ingredient.
`
`Gamache teaches only compositions that must contain 5-HT1D and/or 5-HT1B receptor
`
`agonists. Gamache's compositions may contain additional pharmaceutical active ingredients.
`
`Gamache does not teach or suggest any composition comprising bromfenac as the sole
`
`pharmaceutical active ingredient.
`
`Thus, Gamache does not teach or suggest claims 19, 27 or 32 as amended. Accordingly,
`
`Gamache fails to teach or suggest claims 21-24, 34-36, 38, 40-42, 44 and 46-48 which are
`
`dependent upon claims 19 and 32.
`
`Consequently, Gamache does not render these claims obvious.
`
`B.
`
`Claims 26, 28-30 and 45
`
`Claim 26 recites that "said stable liquid preparation is formulated for ophthalmic
`
`administration; and wherein the stable aqueous liquid preparation is characterized in that greater
`
`than about 90% of the original amount of the first component remains in the preparation after
`storage at about 60 oc for 4 weeks."
`Gamache does not teach or suggest any preparation comprising bromfenac and tyloxapol,
`wherein greater than 90% of the original amount of bromfenac remains after storage at 60 oc for
`4 weeks.
`
`Gamache disclosed generally that anti-inflammatory drugs, such as bromfenac or others,
`
`may be used in a composition including any surfactants "known to those skilled in the art,"
`
`including polysorbate 80. However, Gamache did not recognize the problem that bromfenac
`
`degrades rapidly in the presence of polysorbate 80, a surfactant "known to those skilled in the
`
`11
`
`

`
`art" (according to Gamache), as Applicant demonstrated in the grandparent application Serial
`
`No. 10/525,006.
`
`Applicant recognized this problem and surprisingly found that the degradation of
`
`bromfenac could be avoided by specifically including tyloxapol in the preparation.
`
`Thus, the preparation of claim 26, and its dependent claims, are not obvious from
`
`Gamache.
`
`V.
`
`REJECTION OF CLAIMS 20, 27, 33, and 39 UNDER 35 U.S.C. § 103(a) OVER
`
`GAMACHE IN VIEW OF DESAI
`
`Claim 20 is dependent upon independent claim 19. As pointed out above, claim 19 is
`
`nonobvious over Gamache because Gamache does not teach or suggest any composition wherein
`
`bromefenac is the sole pharmaceutical active ingredient. Therefore, adding Desai to show the
`
`use of benzalkonium chloride still does not overcome the deficiency of Gamache. Therefore,
`
`claim 20 is nonobvious over Gamache in view of Desai.
`
`Claim 27 is amended to recite that bromfenac is the sole pharmaceutical active ingredient
`
`in the preparation. As pointed out above, claim 27 is nonobvious over Gamache because
`
`Gamache does not teach or suggest any composition wherein bromefenac is the sole
`
`pharmaceutical active ingredient. Therefore, adding Desai to show the use of benzalkonium
`
`chloride still does not overcome the deficiency of Gamache. Therefore, claim 27 is nonobvious
`
`over Gamache in view of Desai.
`
`Claims 33 and 39 are dependent upon independent claim 32. As pointed out above, claim 32
`
`is nonobvious over Gamache because Gamache does not teach or suggest any composition
`
`wherein bromfenac is the sole pharmaceutical active ingredient. Therefore, adding Desai to
`
`show the use of benzalkonium chloride still does not overcome the deficiency of Gamache.
`
`Moreover, all Desai's experiments include mannitol, which is excluded from the compositions of
`
`present claims 33 and 39. Therefore, the combination of Gamache and Desai does not teach or
`
`suggest any composition wherein bromfenac is the sole pharmaceutical active ingredient and
`
`wherein mannitol is excluded. Consequently, claims 33 and 39 are nonobvious over Gamache in
`
`view of Desai.
`
`12
`
`

`
`VI.
`
`REJECTION OF CLAIMS 25, 31, 37 AND 43 UNDER 35 U.S.C. § 103(a) OVER
`
`GAMACHE IN VIEW OF OGAWA AND DE BRUIJU
`
`Claim 25 is dependent upon independent claim 19. As pointed out above, claim 19 is
`
`nonobvious over Gamache because Gamache does not teach or suggest any composition wherein
`
`bromefenac is the sole pharmaceutical active ingredient. Therefore, adding Ogawa and De
`
`Bruiju to show the use of sodium tetraborate, sodium sulfite, polyvinylpyrrolidone and boric acid
`
`does not overcome the deficiency of Gamache. Therefore, claim 25 is nonobvious over
`
`Gamache in view of Ogawa and De Bruiju.
`
`Claim 31 is dependent upon independent claim 26. As pointed out above, claim 26 is
`
`nonobvious over Gamache because Gamache does not teach or suggest any preparation
`
`comprising bromfenac and tyloxapol, wherein greater than 90% of the original amount of
`bromfenac remains after storage at 60 oc for 4 weeks. Therefore, adding Ogawa and De Bruiju to
`show the use of sodium tetraborate, sodium sulfite, polyvinylpyrrolidone and boric acid does not
`
`overcome the deficiency of Gamache. Therefore, claim 31 is nonobvious over Gamache in view
`
`of Ogawa and De Bruiju.
`
`Claim 37 is dependent upon independent claim 32. As pointed out above, claim 32 is
`
`nonobvious over Gamache because Gamache does not teach or suggest any composition wherein
`
`bromefenac is the sole pharmaceutical active ingredient. Therefore, adding Ogawa and De
`
`Bruiju to show the use of sodium tetraborate, sodium sulfite, polyvinylpyrrolidone and boric acid
`
`does not overcome the deficiency of Gamache. Therefore, claim 37 is nonobvious over Gamache
`
`in view of Ogawa and De Bruiju.
`
`Claim 43 is dependent upon independent claim 32. As pointed out above, claim 32 is
`
`nonobvious over Gamache because Gamache does not teach or suggest any composition wherein
`
`bromefenac is the sole pharmaceutical active ingredient. Therefore, adding Ogawa and De
`
`Bruiju to show the use of sodium tetraborate, sodium sulfite, polyvinylpyrrolidone and boric acid
`
`does not overcome the deficiency of Gamache. Therefore, claim 43 is nonobvious over
`
`Gamache in view of Ogawa and De Bruiju.
`
`VII. DOUBLE PATENTING REJECTIONS
`
`All claims are rejected on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting as being
`
`unpatentable over claims ofU.S. Patent No. 7,829,544, U.S. Patent No. 8,129,431, U.S. Serial
`
`No. 11/755,662 and U.S. Serial No. 13/353,653.
`13
`
`

`
`A. U.S. Patent No. 7,829,544, U.S. Patent No. 8,129,431, and U.S. Serial No.
`
`13/353,653
`
`Without acquiescing to the grounds of rejection, there are submitted herewith a Terminal
`
`Disclaimer over U.S. Patent No. 7,829,544, U.S. Patent No. 8,129,431, and U.S. Serial No.
`
`13/353,653.
`
`B. U.S. Serial No. 111755,662
`
`Regarding the provisional double patenting rejection over U.S. Serial No. 11/755,662, the
`
`rejection is deemed to be overcome by the submission of a Letter of Express Abandonment filed
`
`in the '662 application by the attorney of record on October 18, 2013 and the undersigned
`
`representative on October 22, 2013.
`
`Accordingly, the double patenting grounds of rejection are deemed to be overcome.
`
`VIII. CONCLUSION
`
`In view of the foregoing, it is believed that each ground of rejection has been overcome,
`
`and that the application is now in condition for allowance.
`
`Applicant respectfully submits that claims 19-48 are patentable over the prior art. A
`
`favorable action on the merits is solicited.
`
`WMC/dlk
`Washington, D.C. 20005-1503
`Telephone (202) 721-8200
`Facsimile (202) 721-8250
`October 22, 2013
`
`Res)(~c~fully submitted,
`tvvarren M.
`Bt:heek, Jr./
`Warren M. Cheek
`Registration No. 33,367
`Attorney for Applicant
`
`Digitally signed by /Warren M. Cheek,
`Jr./
`DN: cn=/Warren M. Cheek, Jr./, o, ou,
`email=wcheek@wenderoth.com, c=US
`Date: 2013.10.22 15:39:25 -04'00'
`
`14

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