See ISPE Guidelines 10.17.

There is no need for the significant structural element to be novel in absolute terms (i.e. novel per se). Rather, this expression means that in relation to the common property or activity there must be a common part of the chemical structure which distinguishes the claimed compounds from any known compounds having the same property or activity.

See ISPE Guidelines 10.18.

The international application must relate to one invention only or to a group of inventions so linked as to form a single general inventive concept.

Section F‑IV, 6.6, in the Guidelines for Examination in the EPO applies mutatis mutandis.

It should be noted that, although an objection of lack of support is an objection under Art. 6, it can often, as in examples (i) to (iii) of GL/EPO F‑IV, 6.3, also be considered as an objection of insufficient disclosure of the invention under Art. 5 (see GL/PCT‑EPO F‑III, 1 to GL/PCT‑EPO F‑III, 3), the objection being that the disclosure is insufficient