Hoechst gene-activated EPO project could face patent challenge, Amgen exec indicates.

HMR GENE-ACTIVATED EPO PROJECT COULD FACE PATENT CHALLENGE FROM AMGEN, Amgen Senior VP-Finance & Corporate Development Robert Attiyeh told the Bear Stearns health care conference Sept. 12 in New York City. Amgen will defend its Epogen franchise initially by focusing on its composition of matter patent, Attiyeh said. "Any non-naturally occurring Epogen is covered by our patent," Attiyeh declared. Transkaryotic's GA-EPO "is not a natural evolution of that cell to produce Epogen," he maintained. Hoechst plans to begin clinical trials for gene-activated erythropoietin, developed with Transkaryotic Therapies, in 1997.