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IN THE UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE
`
`In re application of
`
`Masayo HIGASHIYAMA
`
`Serial No. 10/500,354
`
`Filed June 30, 2004
`
`AQUEOUS LIQUID PREPARATIONS AND
`LIGHT-STABILIZED AQUEOUS LIQUID
`PREPARATIONS
`
`:
`
`:
`
`:
`
`:
`
`:
`
`Attorney Docket No. 2004_1016A
`
`Confirmation N0. 2612
`
`Group Art Unit 1611
`
`Examiner Barbara S. Frazier
`
`Mail Stop: AMENDMENT
`
`SUPPLEMENTAL AMENDMENT
`
`Commissioner for Patents
`
`P.O. Box 1450
`
`Alexandria, VA 22313-1450
`
`Sir:
`
`In further response to the final Office Action of November 30, 2011, the Advisory Action
`
`of May 2, 2012, and in view of the personal interview with the Examiner held June 26, 2012,
`
`please amend the above-identified application as follows:
`
`The USPTO is hereby authorized to charge anyfees under 37 C.F.R. §§ 1.16, 1.17, and 1.492, which may be required by this
`paper to Deposit Account No. 23-0975.
`
`MYLAN EX. 1028, Page 1
`
`MYLAN Ex. 1028, Page 1
`
`

`
`U.S. Serial No. 10/500,354
`Attorney Docket No. 2004_l0 1 6A
`September 14, 2012
`
`AMENDMENTS TO THE CLAIMS
`
`1. (Previously presented) An aqueous liquid preparation consisting essentially of, in an
`
`aqueous solution, an active ingredient consisting of (+)-(S)-4-[4-[(4-chlorophenyl)(2-
`
`pyridyl)methoxy]piperidino] butyric acid or a pharrnacologically acceptable acid addition salt
`
`thereof, and a water-soluble metal chloride in a light-stabilizing effective amount, wherein the
`
`metal chloride has a concentration selected from the range of a lower limit concentration of 0.2
`
`w/v% and an upper limit concentration of 1.2 w/v%.
`
`2. (Cancelled)
`
`3. (Previously presented) The aqueous liquid preparation of claim 1, wherein the metal
`
`chloride is at least one kind selected from sodium chloride, potassium chloride and calcium
`
`chloride.
`
`4. (Cancelled)
`
`5. (Previously presented) The aqueous liquid preparation of claim 1, which is an acid addition
`
`salt of (+)-(S)-4-[4-[(4-chlorophenyl)(2-pyridyl)methoxy]piperidino]butyric acid.
`
`6. (Original) The aqueous liquid preparation of claim 5, wherein the acid addition salt is
`
`monobenzenesulfonate.
`
`7. (Previously presented) The aqueous liquid preparation of claim 1, wherein the aqueous
`
`liquid preparation has a pH in the range of 4-8.5.
`
`8. (Previously presented) The aqueous liquid preparation of claim 1, which is an eye drop.
`
`9. (Previously presented) The aqueous liquid preparation of claim 1, which is a nasal drop.
`
`MYLAN EX. 1028, Page 2
`
`MYLAN Ex. 1028, Page 2
`
`

`
`U.S. Serial No. 10/500,354
`Attorney Docket No. 2004_1016A
`September 14, 2012
`
`10. (Currently amended) An aqueous eye drop ''
`
`consisting essentially of, in an
`
`aqueous solution, (+)-(S)-4-[4-[(4-chlorophenyl)(2-pyridyl)methoxy]piperidino]butyric acid
`
`monobenzenesulfonate, as the only active ingredient, and sodium chloride at not less than 0.2
`
`w/v% and not more than 0.8 w/v% in a light-stabilizing effective amount.
`
`1 1. (Cancelled)
`
`12. (Previously presented) The aqueous liquid preparation of claim 1, wherein the metal
`
`chloride is at least one kind selected from alkali metal chlorides and alkaline earth metal
`
`chlorides.
`
`13. (Previously presented) An aqueous eye drop consisting essentially of an active ingredient
`
`consisting of (+)-(S)-4-[4-[(4-chlorophenyl)(2-pyridyl)methoxy]piperidino]butyric acid or a
`
`pharmacologically acceptable acid addition salt thereof, which is light-stabilized with a water-
`
`soluble metal chloride, wherein the metal chloride has a concentration selected from the range of
`
`a lower limit concentration of 0.2 w/v% and an upper limit concentration of 1.2 w/v%.
`
`14. (Previously presented) An aqueous liquid preparation consisting of, in an aqueous
`
`solution, an active ingredient consisting of (+)-(S)-4-[4-[(4-chlorophenyl)(2-
`
`pyridyl)methoxy]piperidino] butyric acid or a pharmacologically acceptable acid addition salt
`
`thereof, a water-soluble metal chloride in a light-stabilizing effective amount, wherein the metal
`
`chloride has a concentration selected from the range of a lower limit concentration of 0.2 w/v%
`
`and an upper limit concentration of 1.2 w/v%, benzalkonium chloride, sodium
`
`dihydrogenphosphate dihydrate, sodium hydroxide and water.
`
`MYLAN EX. 1028, Page 3
`
`MYLAN Ex. 1028, Page 3
`
`

`
`U.S. Serial No. 10/500,354
`Attorney Docket No. 2004_1016A
`September 14, 2012
`
`REMARKS
`
`Claims 1, 3, 5-10 and 12-14 are pending in this application.
`
`Claim 10 has been amended to recite “consisting essentially of’ in order to be consistent
`
`with claims 1 and 13.
`
`1.
`
`Personal Interview
`
`Applicant appreciates the courtesies extended to Applicant’s attorneys by Examiner
`
`Frazier and Supervisory Examiner Blanchard during the personal interview held June 26, 2012.
`
`Applicant’s attorneys traversed the outstanding prior art rejection based upon the
`
`arguments presented in the Amendment After Final Rejection filed April 24, 2012, and presented
`
`new arguments to traverse the Examiner’s arguments presented in the Advisory Action dated
`
`May 2, 2012 (discussed below).
`
`Examiner Frazier maintained the rejection, and asserted that even though there is a
`
`showing of unexpected results in Example 1 of the specification, and claims 1 and 13 recite
`
`“consisting essentially of’ language to exclude Carbopol, the primafacie case of obviousness
`
`has not been overcome.
`
`In addition, Examiner Frazier stated that she has performed another prior art search, and
`
`found that US 2003/0139436 teaches to use a water-soluble metal chloride for light-stabilizing
`
`effects.
`
`New claim 14 was also discussed. Examiner Frazier stated that she has not fully
`
`examined this claim to determine whether it is patentable over the art, but it appears allowable
`
`over the references of record.
`
`Applicant greatly appreciates the Examiners’ comments, and has considered these
`
`comments in preparing this Supplemental Amendment.
`
`11.
`
`Claim Re°ection Under 35 U.S.C.
`
`103
`
`The Examiner has rejected claims 1-10, 12 and 13 under 35 U.S.C. § 103(a) as being
`
`unpatentable over Kita et al. (US 6,307,052) in view of Lehmussaari et al. (US 5,795,913). As
`
`applied to the amended claims, Applicant respectfully traverses the rejection.
`
`A.
`
`The Examiner’s Position
`
`The Examiner has asserted that Kita et al. disclose (+)-(S)-4-[4-[(4-chlorophenyl)(2-
`
`pyridyl)methoxy]piperidino] butyric acid or a benzenesulfonic acid salt thereof (hereinafter,
`
`“bepotastine”), but do not disclose how a composition comprising bepotastine is formulated and
`
`MYLAN EX. 1028, Page 4
`
`MYLAN Ex. 1028, Page 4
`
`

`
`l0/500,354
`U.S. Serial No.
`Attorney Docket No. 2004_l0 l 6A
`September l4, 2012
`
`do not disclose a composition comprising bepotastine and a water-soluble metal chloride in a
`
`light-stabilizing effective amount of 0.2 w/v% to 1.2 w/v%. The Examiner applies Lehmussaari
`
`et al. for disclosing sodium chloride and potassium chloride in an amount of 0.01 to 2.0% by
`
`weight. See final Office Action, pages 2-3.
`
`B.
`
`Carbopol
`
`Claims l, l0 and l3 each recite the transitional phrase “consisting essentially of’, which
`
`limits the scope of a claim to the specified materials or steps and those that do not materially
`
`affect the basic and novel characteristic(s) of the claimed invention (see MPEP 2l l l .03).
`
`The composition of Lehmussaari et al. requires the inclusion of an ion sensitive,
`
`hydrophilic polymer having viscosity, such as Carbopol, to control the formation of the polymer
`
`film on the cornea of the eye, and each of the reference’s examples contain Carbopol (please see
`
`col. 2, line 57 to col. 3, line 6, and the Examples).
`
`Carbopol is degraded by light. This is clear fiom the Chemical Abstract reference dated
`
`January 3, l972 enclosed with the Amendment filed April 24, 2012, and the enclosed Declaration
`
`under 37 CFR l.l32. As requested by the Examiner, the Chemical Abstract reference is
`
`submitted again herewith in an Information Disclosure Statement.
`
`As discussed in the Declaration, the reference states “CARBOXYVINYL POLYMERS of
`
`the type Carbopol 940. . .and 941 were degraded by light, type 941 presenting the highest
`
`DEGRADATION” (emphasis in original). This clearly teaches that it was known that Carbopol
`
`is degraded by light well-prior to the U.S. filing date of the present application (2003).
`
`Using an ion sensitive, hydrophilic polymer, such as Carbopol, in the aqueous liquid
`
`preparation of claim l and the eye drops of claims l0 and l3 would materially affect the basic
`
`and novel characteristics of the claimed compositions, because it would introduce a component
`
`that degrades in light into a composition that is designed to be “light-stabilized” by a water-
`
`soluble metal chloride.
`
`As a result, an ion sensitive, hydrophilic polymer is excluded from the aqueous liquid
`
`preparation of claim l and the eye drops of claims l0 and 13. Therefore, a person of ordinary
`
`skill in the art could not have arrived at the presently claimed invention from the combination of
`
`Kita et al., disclosing bepotastine, and Lehmussaari et al., disclosing a metal chloride in a
`
`composition with Carbopol, with any reasonable expectation of success.
`
`MYLAN EX. 1028, Page 5
`
`MYLAN Ex. 1028, Page 5
`
`

`
`U.S. Serial No. 10/500,354
`Attorney Docket No. 2004_1016A
`September 14, 2012
`
`C.
`
`Unexpected Results
`
`In the Advisory Action, the Examiner has asserted that even though Applicant has
`
`demonstrated a critical range in which sodium chloride, potassium chloride or calcium chloride
`
`impart a light-stabilizing effect on bepotastine, a person of ordinary skill in the art would have
`
`arrived at 0.2-1.2 w/v% of the metal chloride by routine experimentation.
`
`However, under MPEP 2144.05.Il.B, “[a] particular parameter must first be recognized as
`
`a result-effective variable, i.e., a variable which achieves a recognized result, before the
`
`determination of the optimum or workable ranges of said variable might be characterized as
`
`routine experimentation”.
`
`The Lehmussaari et al. reference provides no teaching that varying the salt concentration
`
`would be helpful for light-stabilization or viscosity optimization. The reference states,
`
`“[a]ccording to the invention we have shown that it is the amount of polymer in the
`
`composition, rather than the viscosity of the composition as such, which are important from
`
`the point of view of obtaining good absorption of drug into the eye”. Fig. 3 shows that by using
`
`the same amount of polymer, in compositions that have different viscosities, the compositions
`
`provide for substantially the same absorption. Fig. 4 shows that compositions containing
`
`different amounts of polymer but the same viscosities and pH’s have stronger absorption over the
`
`composition with the higher polymer concentration. See col. 2, lines 19-34.
`
`One skilled in the art might have recognized that the result-effective variable in the
`
`reference is the amount of polymer (carbopol), but could not have recognized at all that the
`
`amount of salt is a result-effective variable. Therefore, one skilled in the art would not consider
`
`the salt concentration to be a result-effective variable, and would not have determined the
`
`optimum concentration by routine experimentation.
`
`In addition, in Experimental Example 1 of the specification, Formulation 2, comprising
`
`0.1 W/v% of a metal chloride (sodium chloride) fails to light-stabilize bepotastine besilate,
`
`because after light irradiation it was slightly dark green-pale yellow and produced a precipitate.
`
`On the other hand, Formulations 3-6, comprising 0.2 to 1.18 W/v% of a metal chloride (i.e.,
`
`sodium chloride, potassium chloride or calcium chloride), provide an unexpected light-
`
`stabilizing effect, because after light irradiation the formulations were pale yellow and clear and
`
`no precipitate was formed.
`
`MYLAN EX. 1028, Page 6
`
`MYLAN Ex. 1028, Page 6
`
`

`
`U.S. Serial No. 10/500,354
`Attorney Docket No. 2004_1016A
`September 14, 2012
`
`The fact that Formulation 2, comprising 0.1 w/v% of a metal chloride (sodium chloride),
`
`does not light stabilize the composition, even though it falls within the reference’s broad range,
`
`is evidence that the reference’s salt range (0.01-2.0 %) would not be expected to light-stabilize a
`
`composition comprising bepotastine.
`
`Therefore, the Examiner has failed to consider the showing of unexpected results.
`
`D.
`
`Conclusion of Non-Obviousness
`
`As stated in MPEP 2145, the Examiner must consider all rebuttal arguments and
`
`evidence presented by Applicant (citing In re Sam’, 54 F.3d 746, 750, 34 USPQ2d 1684, 1687
`
`(Fed. Cir. 1995)).
`
`Claims 1, 10 and 13 recite “consisting essentially of”, which clearly excludes the required
`
`ingredient of Carpobol of Lehmussaari et al., because it would materially affect the basic and
`
`novel characteristics of the claimed invention.
`
`Furthermore, the present specification demonstrates that a water-soluble metal chloride in
`
`an amount of 0.2 w/v% to 1.2 w/v% has an unexpected light-stabilizing effect.
`
`Therefore, claims 1, 10 and 13 would not have been obvious over the combination of
`
`Kita et al. and Lehmussaari et al.
`
`Claims 3, 5-9 and 12 depend from directly or indirectly from claim 1, and thus also
`
`would not have been obvious over the references.
`
`Accordingly, reconsideration and withdrawal of the rejection are respectfully requested.
`
`III.
`
`Araki et al.
`
`During the interview, the Examiner cited Araki et al. (U.S. Patent Application Publication
`
`No. 2003/0139436). Applicant submits the enclosed Declaration, which includes the following
`
`remarks to distinguish over this reference.
`
`A.
`
`The Differences Between Bepotastine and Sitafloxacin
`
`Araki et al. disclose a composition comprising sitafloxacin (see abstract). Sitafloxacin
`
`has a completely different chemical structure and has completely different chemical properties as
`
`compared to bepotastine, which is contained in the claimed compositions.
`
`MYLAN EX. 1028, Page 7
`
`MYLAN Ex. 1028, Page 7
`
`

`
`l0/500,354
`U.S. Serial No.
`Attorney Docket No. 2004_l0 l 6A
`September l4, 2012
`
`Sitafloxacin has the following chemical structure:
`0
`
`N
`
`N
`
`C1 A/F
`
`1::-,\=
`
`Bepotastine has the following chemical structure:
`
`
`
`The compounds clearly have different chemical structures, and Virtually no similar
`
`chemical moieties. For example, sitafloxacin has an oxoquinoline core bonded to a cyclopropyl
`
`group and a azaspiro[2,4]heptan group. On the other hand, bepotastine does not have any
`
`bicyclic or spiro rings, and has separate pyridine and piperidine rings. There are no common
`
`chemical groups in the two compounds that would suggest they share any similar activity or have
`
`any similar properties.
`
`Araki et al. disclose light stabilization of sitafloxacin by sodium chloride. Sodium
`
`chloride is generally used for isotonization.
`
`Since sitafloxacin has a completely different chemical structure and completely different
`
`chemical properties as compared to bepotastine, as discussed above, there is no predictability or
`
`correlation of light stabilization of bepotastine by sodium chloride.
`
`Therefore, one skilled in the art would not expect a metal chloride to have a light-
`
`stabilizing effect on bepostatine in View of the light stabilizing effect of sodium chloride on
`
`sitafloxacin.
`
`MYLAN EX. 1028, Page 8
`
`MYLAN Ex. 1028, Page 8
`
`

`
`U.S. Serial No. 10/500,354
`Attorney Docket No. 2004_1016A
`September 14, 2012
`
`B.
`
`There is No Reasonable Expectation that Sodium Chloride Would
`
`Suppress Coloration and Precipitation of Bepotastine in view of Araki et al.
`
`Araki et al. state the following:
`
`[0100] As is understood from Table 1, the aqueous sitafloxacin solutions without sodium
`chloride or containing D-sorbitol in place of sodium chloride undergo reductions in pH,
`transmission and sitafloxacin content and an increase of related substances when
`
`irradiated.
`
`[0101] However, it is apparent that addition of sodium chloride suppresses these
`unfavorable changes due to irradiation, showing improvement on sitafloxacin stability
`against light.
`
`The reference is silent on the suppression of coloration and precipitation. While Araki et
`
`al. teach that the addition of sodium chloride results in the suppression of changes in
`
`transmission, the reference does not teach or suggest that sodium chloride causes coloration, and,
`
`likewise, does not mention the suppression of coloration by sodium chloride.
`
`On the other hand, the present application demonstrates that when an aqueous bepotastine
`
`solution free of sodium chloride was subjected to light irradiation, the solution turned black
`
`green, and a precipitate was produced (see specification, page 8, lines 8-9, Formulation 1). A
`
`person of ordinary skill in the art with the goal of reducing or eliminating this phenomenon
`
`would not refer to the teachings Araki et al. and would not have been motivated by the teachings
`
`to Araki et al. to include a metal chloride in a bepotastine composition, because the reference
`
`provides no description regarding coloration and precipitation.
`
`Accordingly, there would have been no reasonable expectation of success of arriving at
`
`the claimed invention from the disclosure of Araki et al.
`
`Therefore, the aqueous liquid preparation of claim 1 and the eye drops of claims 10 and
`
`13 would not have been obvious over Araki et al. in view of Kita et al. and/or Lehmussaari et al.,
`
`or in view of any other reference.
`
`IV.
`
`Claim 14
`
`Claim 14 recites “consisting of ’. The transitional phrase “consisting of ’ excludes any
`
`element, step, or ingredient not specified in the claim (see MPEP 2111.03).
`
`As recognized by the Examiner, none of the references disclose an aqueous liquid
`
`preparation consisting of, in an aqueous solution, an active ingredient consisting of (+)-(S)-4-[4-
`
`[(4-chlorophenyl)(2-pyridyl)methoxy]piperidino] butyric acid or a pharmacologically acceptable
`
`MYLAN EX. 1028, Page 9
`
`MYLAN Ex. 1028, Page 9
`
`

`
`U.S. Serial No. 10/500,354
`Attorney Docket No. 2004_1016A
`September 14, 2012
`
`acid addition salt thereof, a water-soluble metal chloride in a light-stabilizing effective amount,
`
`wherein the metal chloride has a concentration selected from the range of a lower limit
`
`concentration of 0.2 w/V% and an upper limit concentration of 1.2 w/V%, benzalkonium chloride,
`
`sodium dihydrogenphosphate dihydrate, sodium hydroxide and water.
`
`Therefore, claim 14 is patentable over the cited references.
`
`V.
`
`Conclusion
`
`For these reasons, Applicant takes the position that the presently claimed invention is
`
`clearly patentable over the applied references.
`
`Therefore, in View of the foregoing amendments and remarks, it is submitted that the
`
`rejection set forth by the Examiner has been overcome, and that the application is in condition
`
`for allowance. Such allowance is solicited.
`
`Respectfully submitted,
`
`Masayo HIGASHIYAMADigitally signed by /Andrew B.
`B.
`Freistein/
`DN: cn:/Andrew B. Freistein/, o:WLP,
`ou:WLP, emai|:afreistein@wenderoth.
`Date: 2012.09.14 13:06:32 —04'00'
`
`By Freistein/
`Andrew B. Freistein
`
`Registration No. 52,917
`Attorney for Applicant
`
`ABF/cso
`Washington, D.C. 20005-1503
`Telephone (202) 721-8200
`Facsimile (202) 721-825 0
`September 14, 2012
`
`Enclosures: Declaration under 37 CFR 1.132 and Information Disclosure Statement
`
`10
`
`MYLAN EX. 1028, Page 10
`
`MYLAN Ex. 1028, Page 10

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