7. Examination of novelty
7.1 Second or further medical use of known pharmaceutical products
How the novelty of second or further medical use claims is assessed depends on the IPEA. The examiner at the EPO as IPEA examines the novelty of the subject-matter in view of the entry into the regional phase before the EPO and therefore will apply the principles as laid down in GL/EPO EPC Guidelines G‑VI, 6.1 and subsections. See GL/PCT‑EPO B‑VIII, 2.1, for the treatment of medical use claims by the EPO as ISA.