biopharm, "obvious" is an important word in this context because one of the requirements for a patent is that there was an invention. If something is obvious then no invention activity took place.
e.g.: A super new mechanical grease is invented by someone. Then I search a patent to use that grease to grease up gears (and in a first to file system assume I am the first one to file).
Where is my invention? It is OBVIOUS that grease serves to grease things including gears. So although I may have been the first one to file, i didn't invent the concept of greasing things, I didn't invent the grease, I didn't even combine two things in a new something, yet I am the first to file for the NEW application of THAT grease in greasing gears.
No patent will be granted.
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