Prosecution Insights
Last updated: April 19, 2026
Application No. 16/636,606

BENZIMIDAZOLES AND AZA-BENZIMIDAZOLES, AND METHODS OF USE THEREOF

Final Rejection §102
Filed
Feb 04, 2020
Examiner
HASTINGS, ALISON AZAR
Art Unit
1627
Tech Center
1600 — Biotechnology & Organic Chemistry
Assignee
Goldfinch Bio Inc.
OA Round
10 (Final)
62%
Grant Probability
Moderate
11-12
OA Rounds
3y 1m
To Grant
99%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 62% of resolved cases
62%
Career Allow Rate
38 granted / 61 resolved
+2.3% vs TC avg
Strong +38% interview lift
Without
With
+38.1%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
3y 1m
Avg Prosecution
47 currently pending
Career history
108
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
2.2%
-37.8% vs TC avg
§103
29.5%
-10.5% vs TC avg
§102
16.6%
-23.4% vs TC avg
§112
26.8%
-13.2% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 61 resolved cases

Office Action

§102
DETAILED ACTION All objections or rejections not listed below have been withdrawn. Notice of Pre-AIA or AIA Status The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA . Continued Examination Under 37 CFR 1.114 A request for continued examination under 37 CFR 1.114, including the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e), was filed in this application after final rejection. Since this application is eligible for continued examination under 37 CFR 1.114, and the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e) has been timely paid, the finality of the previous Office action has been withdrawn pursuant to 37 CFR 1.114. Applicant's submission filed on 10/18/2024 has been entered. Priority Acknowledgment is made of applicant’s claim for priority. The certified copy has been filed in parent Application No. 62/541,457, filed on 8/4/2017. Information Disclosure Statement The information disclosure statements (IDS) submitted on 08/02/2021 and 02/04/2020 are being considered by the examiner. Claim Interpretation PNG media_image1.png 68 798 media_image1.png Greyscale The chemical variable aryl, heterocycle and heteroaryl used in the claims is defined in the specifications to include the substituted derivatives. For example aryl, heterocycle and heteroaryl is defined in the claims to be: PNG media_image2.png 48 789 media_image2.png Greyscale PNG media_image3.png 63 781 media_image3.png Greyscale Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102 In the event the determination of the status of the application as subject to AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103 (or as subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103) is incorrect, any correction of the statutory basis (i.e., changing from AIA to pre-AIA ) for the rejection will not be considered a new ground of rejection if the prior art relied upon, and the rationale supporting the rejection, would be the same under either status. The following is a quotation of the appropriate paragraphs of 35 U.S.C. 102 that form the basis for the rejections under this section made in this Office action: A person shall be entitled to a patent unless – (a)(1) the claimed invention was patented, described in a printed publication, or in public use, on sale, or otherwise available to the public before the effective filing date of the claimed invention. Claim(s) 77 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being clearly anticipated by STN, CAS Registry 676471-03-7, Entered STN: 22 Apr 2004. The reference STN, CAS Registry 676471-03-7 teaches the following compound, which is the same exact compound as the first compound of instant claim 77. This anticipates claim 77. PNG media_image4.png 574 729 media_image4.png Greyscale Claim(s) 1, 25, 72, 104, 106, 108, 109 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being clearly anticipated by STN, CAS Registry 402730-61-4, Entered STN: 25 Mar 2002. The reference STN, CAS Registry 402730-61-4 teaches the following compound, wherein X=CH, R1=alkylene-O-aryl, R2=N(H)-alkylene-aryl, n=0. This anticipates claims 1, 25, 72, 104, 106, 108, 109. PNG media_image5.png 559 692 media_image5.png Greyscale Claim(s) 1, 2, 25, 72, 104 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being clearly anticipated by STN, CAS Registry 1189055-89-7, Entered STN: 19 Oct 2009. The reference STN, CAS Registry 1189055-89-7 teaches the following compound, wherein X=CH, R1=t-butyl, R2=N(H)-aryl, n=0. This anticipates claims 1, 2, 25, 72, 104. PNG media_image6.png 571 775 media_image6.png Greyscale Claim(s) 1, 25, 72, 104, 106, 107 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being clearly anticipated by STN, CAS Registry 402727-95-1, Entered STN: 25 Mar 2002. The reference STN, CAS Registry 402730-61-4 teaches the following compound, wherein X=CH, R1=alkylene-O-aryl, R2=N(H)-alkylene-aryl, n=0. This anticipates claims 1, 25, 72, 104, 106, 107. PNG media_image7.png 611 723 media_image7.png Greyscale Claim(s) 1, 70, 72 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being clearly anticipated by STN, CAS Registry 1515640-86-4, Entered STN: 09 Jan 2014. The reference STN, CAS Registry 1515640-86-4 teaches the following compound, wherein X=CH, R1=heteroaryl, R2= heteroaryl, n=1, R3=F. This anticipates claims 1, 70, 72. PNG media_image8.png 517 1010 media_image8.png Greyscale Claim(s) 1, 25, 72, 104, 105 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being clearly anticipated by STN, CAS Registry 919083-90-2, Entered STN: 02 Feb 2007. The reference STN, CAS Registry 919083-90-2 teaches the following compound, wherein X=CH, R1=heteroaryl, R2= N(H)-aryl, n=0. This anticipates claims 1, 25, 72, 104, 105. PNG media_image9.png 566 736 media_image9.png Greyscale Claim(s) 1, 25, 72, 94, 104, 105 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being clearly anticipated by ZHANG(ZHANG al etc., WO 2007/005673 A1, 11 January 2007). The reference Zhang teaches the following compound (page 39), wherein X=CH, R1=heteroaryl, R2= N(H)-aryl, n=0. This anticipates claims 1, 25, 72, 104, 105. PNG media_image10.png 195 742 media_image10.png Greyscale The reference Zhang teaches “Compounds of the invention can be administered as pharmaceutical compositions by any conventional route, in particular enterally, e.g., orally, e.g., in the form of tablets or capsules, or parenterally, e.g., in the form of injectable solutions or suspensions, topically, e.g., in the form of lotions, gels, ointments or creams, or in a nasal or suppository form. Pharmaceutical compositions comprising a compound of the present invention in free form or in a pharmaceutically acceptable salt form in association with at least one pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or diluent can be manufactured in a conventional maimer by mixing, granulating or coating methods. For example, oral compositions can be tablets or gelatin capsules comprising the active ingredient together with a) diluents, e.g., lactose, dextrose, sucrose, mannitol, sorbitol, cellulose and/or glycine; b) lubricants, e.g., silica, talcum, stearic acid, its magnesium or calcium salt and/or polyethyleneglycol; for tablets also c) binders, e.g., magnesium aluminum silicate, starch paste, gelatin, tragacanth, methylcellulose, sodium carboxymethylcellulose and or polyvinylpyrrolidone; if desired d) disintegrants, e.g., starches, agar, alginic acid or its sodium salt, or effervescent mixtures; and/or e) absorbents, colorants, flavors and sweeteners” [0075]. This anticipates claim 94. Response to Arguments Applicant’s arguments with respect to claim(s) 01/12/2026 have been considered but are moot because the new ground of rejection does not rely on any reference applied in the prior rejection of record for any teaching or matter specifically challenged in the argument. Conclusion Claims 1, 2, 25, 70, 72, 77, 94, 104, 105, 106, 107, 108, 109 are rejected. Claims 26, 38, 95-98, 101, 103 are withdrawn. Applicant's amendment necessitated the new ground(s) of rejection presented in this Office action. Accordingly, THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. See MPEP § 706.07(a). Applicant is reminded of the extension of time policy as set forth in 37 CFR 1.136(a). A shortened statutory period for reply to this final action is set to expire THREE MONTHS from the mailing date of this action. In the event a first reply is filed within TWO MONTHS of the mailing date of this final action and the advisory action is not mailed until after the end of the THREE-MONTH shortened statutory period, then the shortened statutory period will expire on the date the advisory action is mailed, and any nonprovisional extension fee (37 CFR 1.17(a)) pursuant to 37 CFR 1.136(a) will be calculated from the mailing date of the advisory action. In no event, however, will the statutory period for reply expire later than SIX MONTHS from the mailing date of this final action. Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to ALISON AZAR SALAMATIAN whose telephone number is (703)756-4584. The examiner can normally be reached Mon-Thurs 7:30am-5pm EST Friday 7:30-4pm EST (every other Friday off). Examiner interviews are available via telephone, in-person, and video conferencing using a USPTO supplied web-based collaboration tool. To schedule an interview, applicant is encouraged to use the USPTO Automated Interview Request (AIR) at http://www.uspto.gov/interviewpractice. If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Kortney Klinkel can be reached at (571) 270-5239. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300. Information regarding the status of published or unpublished applications may be obtained from Patent Center. Unpublished application information in Patent Center is available to registered users. To file and manage patent submissions in Patent Center, visit: https://patentcenter.uspto.gov. Visit https://www.uspto.gov/patents/apply/patent-center for more information about Patent Center and https://www.uspto.gov/patents/docx for information about filing in DOCX format. For additional questions, contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free). If you would like assistance from a USPTO Customer Service Representative, call 800-786-9199 (IN USA OR CANADA) or 571-272-1000. /A.A.H./ Examiner, Art Unit 1627 /Kortney L. Klinkel/ Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 1627
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Feb 04, 2020
Application Filed
Apr 10, 2021
Non-Final Rejection — §102
Aug 02, 2021
Response Filed
Oct 25, 2021
Final Rejection — §102
Mar 29, 2022
Request for Continued Examination
Mar 30, 2022
Response after Non-Final Action
May 06, 2022
Non-Final Rejection — §102
Jul 13, 2022
Response Filed
Jul 28, 2022
Final Rejection — §102
Feb 02, 2023
Notice of Allowance
Sep 01, 2023
Request for Continued Examination
Sep 06, 2023
Response after Non-Final Action
Sep 16, 2023
Non-Final Rejection — §102
Mar 21, 2024
Response Filed
Jun 15, 2024
Final Rejection — §102
Oct 08, 2024
Response after Non-Final Action
Oct 18, 2024
Request for Continued Examination
Oct 18, 2024
Response after Non-Final Action
Oct 21, 2024
Response after Non-Final Action
Feb 20, 2025
Non-Final Rejection — §102
Jun 06, 2025
Response Filed
Jun 20, 2025
Final Rejection — §102
Sep 29, 2025
Request for Continued Examination
Oct 06, 2025
Response after Non-Final Action
Oct 08, 2025
Non-Final Rejection — §102
Jan 12, 2026
Response Filed
Feb 23, 2026
Final Rejection — §102 (current)

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Study what changed to get past this examiner. Based on 5 most recent grants.

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Prosecution Projections

11-12
Expected OA Rounds
62%
Grant Probability
99%
With Interview (+38.1%)
3y 1m
Median Time to Grant
High
PTA Risk
Based on 61 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allow rate.

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