Opinion
Patent Appeal No. 5659.
Argued January 13, 1950.
Decided April 3, 1950.
Whittemore, Hulbert Belknap, Washington, D.C. (L. Gaylord Hulbert, Detroit, Mich., and George A. Degnan, Washington, D.C., of counsel) for appellant.
E.L. Reynolds, Washington, D.C. (J. Schimmel, Washington, D.C., of counsel) for the Commissioner of Patents.
Before GARRETT, Chief Judge, and JACKSON, O'CONNELL and JOHNSON, Judges.
On May 15, 1944, the appellant filed an application in the United States Patent Office for a patent covering improvements in "Hydantoins and Methods of Obtaining the Same." The subject matter of the patent application is said to be a new class of chemical compounds valuable in therapeutic use by reason of high anti-convulsant activity combined with low toxicity.
On July 16, 1946, the Primary Examiner in the Patent Office entered a final rejection of all of the claims (1, 2, and 3) in the application as lacking invention over the disclosure appearing in a 1936 scientific publication. When the appellant appealed to the Patent Office Board of Appeals the decision of the examiner was, on December 12, 1947, affirmed. The appellant thereupon filed a Petition and Supplemental Petition for Reconsideration, both of which were denied by the board on February 18, 1948.
The applicant has appealed to this court from those decisions of the board. R.S. 4911, 35 U.S.C. 59a [Revised Judicial Code 1948, 28 U.S.C.A. § 1542].
Claim 3 is illustrative of the subject matter. Broader claims 1 and 2 are set out in the margin. No claims were presented covering the method of preparing the compositions of matter claimed.
1. A compound having the formula
where R is an alkyl radical having from 3 to 12 carbon atoms of the class consisting of straight chain and branched chain radicals and M is a member of the group consisting of hydrogen and non-toxic salt-forming groups.
2. A compound having the formula
where R is a branched chain alkyl radical having from 3 to 12 carbon atoms of the class consisting of a straight chain and branched chain radicals and M is a member of the group consisting of hydrogen and non-toxic salt-forming groups.
3. 5-Isopropoxymethyl-5-phenylhydantoin.
The publication upon which the finding of lack of invention was based by the examiner and board is Volume 58, Journal of American Chemical Society, pages 474-477.
Hydantoin is considered a derivative of amino-acetic acid. It is found in molasses. C-homologues, phenyl-ethyl-hydantoin, known as nirvanol, are used as hypnotics. Organic Chemistry, Karrer, 3d Ed., 1947, p. 286-7. It is also identified as glycolyl urea with a formula
Chemical and Technical Dictionary, Bennett, 1947.
Henze's application is directed to compounds derived from hydantoin and having the general structural formula where R
represents an alkyl radical of from 3 to 12 carbon atoms. M represents hydrogen or a non-toxic salt forming element or group, such as sodium, magnesium, ammonium, and substituted ammonium (e.g., mono and di-alkyl ammonium and corresponding hydroxy alkyl ammonium). The specification not only details methods of preparation of the claimed compounds, but also recites specific dosages applicable generally to adults.
Hydrocarbons rich in hydrogen are known as saturated or paraffin hydrocarbons and correspond to the general formula CnH2n + 2, carbon, C, being tetravalent, and hydrogen, H, being monovalent. Adjacent members of the paraffin series thus differ by CH2, as Methane (CH4), Ethane (CH3CH3 — or C2H6), Propane (CH3CH2CH3 — or C3H8), etc. The saturated hydrocarbons are known as "alkanes." If a hydrogen atom is thought of as being removed from the paraffin hydrocarbons, groups of atoms remain — called radicals — which may combine with other atoms or groups of atoms to form derivatives, known as monovalent derivatives of the hydrocarbons. Those radicals are referred to as "alkyl radicals" and are characterized by the ending "-yl": thus — methyl (CH3); ethyl (C2H5); propyl (C3H7); butyl (C4H9); amyl (C5H11); hexyl (C6H13); heptyl (C7H15); octyl (C8H17), etc. The general formula of the alkyl radicals is CnH2n + 1 (where "n" represents the number of carbon atoms). Karrer, supra, pp. 22, 23.
Claim 1 is the generic claim. Claim 2 is somewhat narrower, being drawn to compounds in which R represents a branched chain alkyl. Claim 3 is specific to a compound in which R is isopropyl and M is hydrogen. The compound of claim 3 corresponds to the formula
In the March 1936 edition of the Journal of American Chemical Society (Volume 58 at pages 474 to 477) there was published an article written "by Niel E. Rigler with Henry R. Henze," the latter being the appellant, entitled "Synthesis of Compounds with Hypnotic Properties. I. Alkoxy-methylhydantoins." The authors state that soporifics of definite potency and usefulness had been produced, prior to their investigation, as a result of extensive studies performed among the series of alkyl disubstituted barbituric acids. Because of the structural relationship of hydantoin to barbituric acid, the authors selected for their investigation the inquiry of whether the innocuous substance hydantoin might, by the attachment of alkyl, alkyloxy, aryl, or aryloxyalkyl groups to the nucleus, be converted into soporific derivatives. It was stated by the authors that in their research, "the groups attached to the hydantoin nucleus, either directly or through the methoxy grouping, were those which have been demonstrated to possess a definite narcotic effect." They included in their synthesis a variation wherein one of the alkyls was attached indirectly through the methoxyl group "so that the compounds prepared are 5,5' — alkoxymethyl alkyl (or aryl) hydantoins." A method of preparation was used which yielded an end product conforming to the general formula
In Table VII of the experimental data set forth in the article there appears under the heading "Alkoxymethyl Hydantoins" (adjacent to which appears the general formula
which is the equivalent of the general formula next above) columnar tabulations identifying the specific radicals which were substituted for the R and R' in the synthesis and experimentation. The sixth entry in Table VII identifies R as "Ethyl" and R' as "Phenyl." The ethyl radical is C2H5 (or CH3CH2) and the phenyl radical is the aryl or aromatic monovalent hydrocarbon radical C6H5. There is thus disclosed, when the substitution is made in the end product formula, supra, the compound ethoxymethylphenylhydantoin, conforming to the general formula,
which may be stated as 5-ethoxymethyl-5-phenylhydantoin.
It is at once apparent that the compound of the disclosure differs from the compound of claim 3 merely by CH2. The claimed compound is thus the next higher homologue of the compound disclosed in the publication.
Of the pharmacological utility of ethoxy-methylphenylhydantoin, the authors stated that it "in moderate doses causes convulsions and for it the range between the effective and lethal doses is too narrow."
Parke, Davis Company are the assignees of the appellant's patent application. An affidavit of record by the Director of Chemical Research of that company states that numerous samples of various hydantoins, including "Dilantin" (sodium diphenyl hydantoinate) and 5-isopropoxy-methyl-5-phenylhydantoin, were supplied by him to Drs. Merritt and Putnam. They then submitted to the Director reports of actual clinical tests which indicated that out of many hundreds of compounds studied by them for anti-convulsant activity and effectiveness, the two mentioned possessed outstanding activity and effectiveness in the clinic, were non-toxic, and, on the basis of results secured in their use in the electrically induced convulsion test for cats, both were safe drugs to use. That and other test data were stated by the affiant definitely to show "that 5-Isopro-poxymethyl-5-phenyl hydantoin is a safe anticonvulsant of high activity and outstanding effectiveness."
The examiner had held, following In re Hass, 141 F.2d 130, 31 C.C.P.A., Patents, 908, that the claims in issue were unpatentable, lacking invention over the disclosure of the publication, because the appellant had failed to show that the compounds claimed had an unexpected beneficial property not possessed by the lower adjacent homologue disclosed in the publication. The examiner held that the affidavit did not aid in conferring patentability upon the rejected claims because there was no showing that the lower homologue would not yield results similar to the claimed compounds under certain dosages.
The board upheld the examiner's position and emphasized that it was necessary that there be proof by the appellant that the compound of the reference does not have the same effect as the claimed compounds under the same conditions of dosage. The disclosure in the publication of the class of compounds, 5,5'-alkoxy-methyl alkyl (or aryl) hydantoins, was also held by the board to be a disclosure of the class of compounds of claims 1 and 2.
Appellant admits that 5-ethoxymethyl-5-phenylhydantoin, disclosed in the reference, is a lower homologue of the compound set out in claim 3. He acknowledges that the publication cited against his claims is silent as to the effects produced by 5-ethoxymethyl-5-phenylhydantoin at less than moderate dosages, but he contends that even if convulsions would not occur, there was no inference that the compound would have anti-convulsion utility at such lower dosages. Appellant's position is that it is sufficient if he shows that his compounds have utility and unexpected beneficial properties not known to be possessed by the prior art homologue. He insists that it was error for the Patent Office tribunals to require him to establish that his claimed compounds possessed unexpected properties in fact not possessed by the prior art homologue.
A homologous series is a family of chemically related compounds, the composition of which varies from member to member by CH2 (one atom of carbon and two atoms of hydrogen). In re Loring Coes, Jr., 173 F.2d 1012, 36 C.C.P.A., Patents, 1067. The court's rule on the patentability of a composition of matter over an adjacent homologue old in the art has been uniformly applied. In the case of In re Lincoln 126 F.2d 477, 480, 29 C.C.P.A., Patents, 942, claim 14 there in issue was held properly rejected as lacking invention over references disclosing homologues of the compound described in claim 14 "there being no showing in the record that appellants' compound has any unexpected beneficial results." In the Hass cases, 141 F.2d 122, 127, 129, 130, 31 C.C.P.A., Patents, 895, 903, 908; it was clearly laid down that "to be patentable, novel members of a homologous series of [chemical] compounds must possess some unobvious or unexpected beneficial properties not possessed by a homologous compound disclosed in the prior art." Whether invention exists over prior art isomers and homologues is a question to be decided in each case. In re Hass, 141 F.2d 127, 31 C.C.P.A., Patents, 903. Patentability is not resolved conclusively even where unexpected or unobvious beneficial properties are established to exist in novel members of a homologous series over prior art members, as the circumstances of the case may require a consideration of other factors. In re Finley, 174 F.2d 130, 36 C.C.P.A., Patents, 998. A mere difference in degree is not the marked superiority which ordinarily will remove the unpatentability of adjacent homologues of old substances. In re Loring Coes, Jr., supra. The reason for the rule is that the characteristics normally possessed by members of a homologous series are principally the same, and vary but gradually from member to member. Chemists knowing the properties of one member of a series would in general know what to expect in adjacent members. In re Norris, 37 C.C.P.A., Patents, ___, 179 F.2d 970. The same rule applies to isomers. In re Jones, 162 F.2d 638, 34 C.C.P.A., Patents, 1168; In re Norris, supra.
In effect, the nature of homologues and the close relationship the physical and chemical properties of one member of a series bears to adjacent members in such that a presumption of unpatentability arises against a claim directed to a composition of matter, the adjacent homologue of which is old in the art. The burden is on the applicant to rebut that presumption by a showing that the claimed compound possesses unobvious or unexpected beneficial properties not actually possessed by the prior art homologue. It is immaterial that the prior art homologue may not be recognized or known to be useful for the same purpose or to possess the same properties as the claimed compound. This does not mean that in every case the Patent Office would be justified in exacting empirical data from an applicant respecting the properties of the prior art homologue tested under the same conditions and limitations as are set forth for the claimed compound where the reaction of the old compound under those conditions is a well established fact of general cognizance in the art. Here, however, nothing is known of the properties of the compound of the reference except under "moderate dosage." The appellant admits that nothing is known of the properties of that compound under "less than moderate dosages." It is not known that it will not yield the same or comparable results to the claimed compound under equivalent dosage conditions.
The appellant was not refused a patent in limine but was only placed under a reasonable requirement to overcome a presumption reasonably raised and which he could reasonably be expected to meet. Here particularly he would be expected to have access to the fruits of the original research culminating in his joint authorship of the cited publication; moreover, in the absence of such data, the assignee of appellant's patent application, the Parke, Davis Company, might reasonably be expected to have the resources to conduct such tests as would be required. The Patent Office as the public's representative has the right to require such evidence of invention as is suitable to dissolve a presumption of unpatentability arising out of the nature of the subject matter where the criteria raising the presumption, as here, are of universal acceptance by those skilled in the art involved. The elements of the consideration underlying the patent monopoly are not artificial or insubstantial: each must be conclusively satisfied if the Patent Office is not to act ultra vires in the grant of a patent. The statute permits the Patent Office to grant a patent only where invention, novelty, and utility coexist. R.S. 4886, 35 U.S.C. 31, 35 U.S.C.A. § 31. Advance over the art is a fourth element implicit in that recital. Art. I, § 8, U.S. Constitution. To those skilled in the chemical art, one homologue is not such an "advance" over an adjacent member of the series as requires invention, unless the beneficial properties realized in the new homologue lie clearly outside of the expectations which knowledge of his science would inform the trained chemist should be inherent in the product. See Ellis on Patent Claims, Sections 474, 475. In the latter event, it may be possible to say that inventive genius and not mere skill of the calling was required to select the new compound, otherwise not.
Adjacent homologues, without more, are but equivalents. Ellis on Patent Claims, Section 365. If by discovering useful properties of a new but adjacent member an applicant may escape the responsibility of showing that the same property is not inherent in an old homologue not theretofore known as useful for that purpose, the doctrine that a new use for an old product is not patentable would effectively be wiped out of the law of chemical patents. The principle is too firmly imbedded in our substantive patent law to permit such a result. In re Bonner, 174 F.2d 938, 36 C.C.P.A., Patents, 1081, and cases cited.
Appellant contends that the board is in error in approving the rejection of claims 1 and 2 on the disclosure in the publication of the class of compounds, 5,5'-alkoxymethyl alkyl (or aryl) hydantoins. As has been noted, the general formula for alkyl radicals in CnH2n + 1; "aryl" refers to the aromatic monovalent hydrocarbon radical, as e.g., phenyl — C6H5. Appellant considers that disclosure, appearing near the beginning of the article, to be limited to ethoxymethylphenylhydantoin because Table VII, near the end of the article lists, as example six, only that combination. We consider the first reference, to 5,5'- alkoxymethyl alkyl (or aryl) hydantoin, as well as the general formula
in connection with the identification of R' as "Phenyl" in Table VII, and alkyl radicals as R, to suggest a class of compounds. It does not matter that all of the members of the class were not named. The generic designation used was according to standard chemical nomenclature and would convey to chemists the relationship to be observed in uniting classical organic radicals in compounds susceptible to conventional synthesis. In re Von Bramer, 127 F.2d 149, 29 C.C.P.A., Patents, 1018. Even if that were not so, the mere disclosure of a single species would have been sufficient to bar the way. In re Williams, 168 F.2d 525, 35 C.C.P.A., Patents, 1219; In re Steenbock, 83 F.2d 912, 23 C.C.PA., Patents, 1244.
As to the contention of appellant that the publication is concerned with an examination of the soporific properties of the compounds disclosed, whereas his present application is directed to compounds, which we hold are unpatentable over the reference, with anticonvulsant properties, it is sufficient to state that more than a new advantage of a product must be discovered to lend it patentability; "It is not invention to perceive that the product which others had discovered had qualities they failed to detect." General Electric Co. v. Jewel Incandescent Lamp Co., 326 U.S. 242, 249, 66 S.Ct. 81, 84, 90 L.Ed. 43.
We agree with the board that appellant should have furnished the proof requested by the examiner showing that the unexpected beneficial properties of high anticonvulsant activity with low toxicity secured by the administration of the claimed compounds in the small dosages specified were not in fact possessed by the homologue disclosed in the reference under the same or equivalent dosage conditions. On the record before us, we affirm the decision below that the claims at bar are unpatentable over the references.
Affirmed.