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Biotech / Medical : Sirna Therapeutics Inc -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: bob zagorin who wrote (305)	1/27/2000 8:23:00 PM
From: bob zagorin	Respond to of 562

RPI Disputes Gene Shears' Claim Regarding European Ribozyme Patent BOULDER, Colo., Jan. 27 /PRNewswire/ -- Ribozyme Pharmaceuticals, Inc. ("RPI") (Nasdaq: RZYM) announced today that it believes claims recently made by Gene Shears Pty Ltd regarding its alleged success in obtaining European patents covering certain ribozymes were misleading. In fact, the European Patent Office agreed with RPI last fall that many claims in Gene Shear's European patent application were invalid. There have been no new developments in this case in over four months. In Munich, the European Patent Office found on September 2, 1999 that the claims of Gene Shears granted patent drawn to so-called non-GUX (where X is U, A, C or G) ribozymes were not patentable over Gene Shears own publications. The office held that "[a]fter deliberation, the OD [Opposition Division] decided that embodiments which enjoy protection only from the second priority [i.e., those ribozymes that target DUX, where D is U, C or A] lack an inventive step..." Because of this holding, Gene Shears was able to maintain only those claims filed in an amended auxiliary request. "We do not believe the Gene Shears patent covers those ribozymes that RPI presently has in clinical trials," stated RPI's Chief Executive Officer Dr. Ralph E. Christoffersen. "Moreover, it is RPI's expectation that none of the allowed claims will be determined to cover RPI's chemically-stabilized synthetic ribozymes," Christoffersen added. "We are extremely proud of our strong patent position. We hold over 100 issued or allowed patents worldwide, and we currently have over 100 additional patent applications pending." Ribozymes are the product of Nobel Prize winning science and are synthetically engineered to act as "molecular scissors" capable of cleaving target RNA in a highly specific manner. RPI, located in Boulder, Colorado, is the acknowledged leader in ribozyme therapeutic development. RPI is partnered with Eli Lilly for development of an anti-HCV ribozyme which is expected to enter Phase I clinical trials in the first quarter of 2000. RPI is partnered with Chiron Corporation for the development and commercialization of ANGIOZYME(TM), an anti-angiogenic ribozyme designed to inhibit the growth of new blood supplies to tumors and prevent tumor growth and metastasis. ANGIOZYME is in Phase I/II clinical trials at the Cleveland Clinic. RPI is also partnered with Elan Corporation for development and commercialization of HERZYME(TM), an anti-HER2 ribozyme for treatment of breast and other cancers. Except for historical information contained in this press release, the foregoing contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties concerning the patentability of claimed inventions and products, the enforceability, validity or scope of protection offered by patents, and the outcome of contested proceedings in the patent offices and/or the courts. Further information about such factors is included in the Company's most recent Registration Statement filed on Form S-1, its Annual Report on Form 10-K, and its Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, which have been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. SOURCE Ribozyme Pharmaceuticals, Inc. CO: Ribozyme Pharmaceuticals, Inc.; Gene Shears Pty Ltd ST: Colorado, Germany IN: BIO MTC SU: LAW 01/27/2000 18:54 EST prnewswire.com