Prosecution Insights
Last updated: April 19, 2026
Application No. 17/059,464

Compounds and Methods for Treating Bacterial Infections

Non-Final OA §102
Filed
Nov 29, 2020
Examiner
SHTERENGARTS, SAMANTHA L
Art Unit
1623
Tech Center
1600 — Biotechnology & Organic Chemistry
Assignee
New York University
OA Round
7 (Non-Final)
79%
Grant Probability
Favorable
7-8
OA Rounds
2y 4m
To Grant
87%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 79% — above average
79%
Career Allow Rate
1325 granted / 1669 resolved
+19.4% vs TC avg
Moderate +8% lift
Without
With
+7.8%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 4m
Avg Prosecution
31 currently pending
Career history
1700
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
2.2%
-37.8% vs TC avg
§103
14.0%
-26.0% vs TC avg
§102
27.5%
-12.5% vs TC avg
§112
34.5%
-5.5% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 1669 resolved cases

Office Action

§102
DETAILED ACTION 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 . Response to Amendments 2. Claim amendments filed January 29, 2026 are acknowledged. 3. Any rejections not explicitly maintained herein are withdrawn. Election/Restrictions 4. In accordance with the MPEP 803.02, if upon examination of the elected species, no prior art is found that would anticipate or render obvious the instant invention based on the elected species, the search of the Markush-type claim will be extended (see MPEP 803.02). If prior art is then found that anticipates or renders obvious the non-elected species, the Markush-type claim will be rejected. It should be noted that the prior art search will not be extended unnecessarily to cover all non-elected species. Should Applicant overcome the rejection by amending the claim, the amended claim will be reexamined. Id. The prior art search will be extended to the extent necessary to determine patentability of the Markush-type claim. Id. In the event prior art is found during reexamination that renders obvious or anticipates the amended Markush-type claim, the claim will be rejected and the action made final. Id. Status of Claims 5. Claims 1-6, 8, 10, 15-16, 24-25, 29, 36, 41-44 and 50-52 are pending in the instant application. Claims 6, 25, and 43-44 are withdrawn from further consideration pursuant to 37 CFR 1.142(b), as being drawn to a non-elected invention and species. Therefore, claims 1-5, 8, 10, 15-16, 24, 29, 36, 41-42, and 50-52 read on an elected invention and species and are therefore under consideration in the instant application. Claim Objections 6. Claim 10 is objected to for depending on a rejected base claim. Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102 7. 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 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. 8. 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. 9. Claims 1-5, 15-16, 24, 41, 42, 50, 51, and 52 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by CAplus Registry Number: RN 1285221-21-7. [Database Registry Chemical Abstracts Service, Columbus, Ohio, Accession No. RN 1285221-21-7Entered STN: 24 Apr 2011]. PNG media_image1.png 526 588 media_image1.png Greyscale RN 1285221-21-7 anticipates the instantly claimed compounds of claim 1 as follows: X1, X2, X3, and X4 are CH, R4 is Br, n is 0, the bond from A is a double bond, A is CH, m is 1, R1 and R2 are H, Z is thienyl, R3 is -CO2H. RN 1285221-21-7 anticipates the 6th compound in claim 41, 4th compound in claim 51 as follows: PNG media_image2.png 285 386 media_image2.png Greyscale 5-[(6-bromo-1 H-indol-1-yl)methyl]thiophene-2-carboxylic acid. Registry number 1285221-21-7 is available as prior art as of 24 Apr 2011, the date it was indexed into the CAplus database. Regarding the compositions of claims 42 and 50, comprising the anticipatory compounds and a carrier, the Registry entry for Registry no. 1285221-21-7 discloses a mass solubility of 0.021 g/L, in unbuffered water at pH 4.29. This teaching anticipates the claimed composition, wherein the compounds are present with an excipient (i.e., water). See MPEP 2128: ELECTRONIC PUBLICATIONS AS PRIOR ART Status as a "Printed Publication" An electronic publication, including an on-line database or Internet publication, is considered to be a “printed publication” within the meaning of 35 U.S.C. 102(a) and (b) provided the publication was accessible to persons concerned with the art to which the document relates. See In re Wyer, 655 F.2d 221, 227, 210 USPQ 790, 795 (CCPA 1981) Since this date represents the date that each compound entered the CAPlus database on STN, this represents the date that each compound was made accessible to the public. The aforementioned compound anticipates the instantly claimed compounds: It is further noted that for the purposes of determining if a reference is a “printed publication” for the purposes of 102(b), MPEP 2128 states the following: PNG media_image3.png 99 480 media_image3.png Greyscale where “prior art disclosures…on an on-line database are considered to be publicly available as of the date the item was publicly posted.” Since each of the database entries above lists the date that each compound was entered into the on-line database, the compounds were made publicly available as of that date in each citation, and the claims are anticipated. 10. Claims 1-4, 8, 16, 24, 42, and 52 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by CAplus Registry Number: RN 1075808-12-6. [Database Registry Chemical Abstracts Service, Columbus, Ohio, Accession No. RN 1075808-12-6 Entered STN: 26 Nov 2008]. PNG media_image4.png 540 584 media_image4.png Greyscale RN 1075808-12-6 anticipates the instantly claimed compounds of claim 1 as follows: X1, X2, X3, and X4 are CH, R4 is heterocycle substituted with R7, two R7 groups form =O, n is 0, the bond from A is a single bond, A is CH, m is 1, R1 and R2 form =O, Z is substituted triazole, R3 is -NH(methyl). Registry number 1075808-12-6 is available as prior art as of 26 Nov 2008, the date it was indexed into the CAplus database. Regarding the compositions of claim 42, comprising the anticipatory compounds and a carrier, the Registry entry for Registry no. 1075808-12-6 discloses a mass solubility of 0.012 g/L, in unbuffered water at pH 7.00. This teaching anticipates the claimed composition, wherein the compounds are present with an excipient (i.e., water). See MPEP 2128: ELECTRONIC PUBLICATIONS AS PRIOR ART Status as a "Printed Publication" An electronic publication, including an on-line database or Internet publication, is considered to be a “printed publication” within the meaning of 35 U.S.C. 102(a) and (b) provided the publication was accessible to persons concerned with the art to which the document relates. See In re Wyer, 655 F.2d 221, 227, 210 USPQ 790, 795 (CCPA 1981) Since this date represents the date that each compound entered the CAPlus database on STN, this represents the date that each compound was made accessible to the public. The aforementioned compound anticipates the instantly claimed compounds: It is further noted that for the purposes of determining if a reference is a “printed publication” for the purposes of 102(b), MPEP 2128 states the following: PNG media_image3.png 99 480 media_image3.png Greyscale where “prior art disclosures…on an on-line database are considered to be publicly available as of the date the item was publicly posted.” Since each of the database entries above lists the date that each compound was entered into the on-line database, the compounds were made publicly available as of that date in each citation, and the claims are anticipated. 11. Claims 1-4, 16, 24, 29, 36, 42, and 52 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by CAplus Registry Number: RN 1030804-39-7. [Database Registry Chemical Abstracts Service, Columbus, Ohio, Accession No. RN 1030804-39-7, Entered STN: 26 Jun 2008]. PNG media_image5.png 418 633 media_image5.png Greyscale RN 1030804-39-7 anticipates the instantly claimed compounds of claim 1 as follows: X1, X2, X3, and X4 are CH, R4 is heteroaryl substituted with R6, R6 is methyl, n is 0, the bond from A is a single bond, A is CH, m is 1, R1 and R2 together form =O, Z is pyrrolyl substituted with two R6, both R6 are methyl, R3 is -CO2methyl. Registry number 1030804-39-7 is available as prior art as of 26 Jun 2008, the date it was indexed into the CAplus database. Regarding the compositions of claim 42, comprising the anticipatory compounds and a carrier, the Registry entry for Registry no. 1030804-39-7 discloses a mass solubility of 0.028 g/L, in unbuffered water at pH 7.00. This teaching anticipates the claimed composition, wherein the compounds are present with an excipient (i.e., water). See MPEP 2128: ELECTRONIC PUBLICATIONS AS PRIOR ART Status as a "Printed Publication" An electronic publication, including an on-line database or Internet publication, is considered to be a “printed publication” within the meaning of 35 U.S.C. 102(a) and (b) provided the publication was accessible to persons concerned with the art to which the document relates. See In re Wyer, 655 F.2d 221, 227, 210 USPQ 790, 795 (CCPA 1981) Since this date represents the date that each compound entered the CAPlus database on STN, this represents the date that each compound was made accessible to the public. The aforementioned compound anticipates the instantly claimed compounds: It is further noted that for the purposes of determining if a reference is a “printed publication” for the purposes of 102(b), MPEP 2128 states the following: PNG media_image3.png 99 480 media_image3.png Greyscale where “prior art disclosures…on an on-line database are considered to be publicly available as of the date the item was publicly posted.” Since each of the database entries above lists the date that each compound was entered into the on-line database, the compounds were made publicly available as of that date in each citation, and the claims are anticipated. Conclusion 12. No claims allowed. 13. Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to Samantha Shterengarts whose telephone number is (571)270-5316. The examiner can normally be reached on Monday thru Thursday 9-6pm. If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Mr. Adam Milligan can be reached on 571-270-7674. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300. Information regarding the status of an application may be obtained from the Patent Application Information Retrieval (PAIR) system. Status information for published applications may be obtained from either Private PAIR or Public PAIR. Status information for unpublished applications is available through Private PAIR only. For more information about the PAIR system, see http://pair-direct.uspto.gov. Should you have questions on access to the Private PAIR system, contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free). If you would like assistance from a USPTO Customer Service Representative or access to the automated information system, call 800-786-9199 (IN USA OR CANADA) or 571-272-1000. /SAMANTHA L SHTERENGARTS/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1623
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Prosecution Timeline

Nov 29, 2020
Application Filed
Jun 07, 2022
Non-Final Rejection — §102
Sep 30, 2022
Response Filed
Dec 28, 2022
Final Rejection — §102
May 02, 2023
Response after Non-Final Action
Jun 22, 2023
Request for Continued Examination
Jun 29, 2023
Response after Non-Final Action
Sep 24, 2023
Non-Final Rejection — §102
Jan 29, 2024
Response Filed
May 18, 2024
Final Rejection — §102
Jul 19, 2024
Response after Non-Final Action
Aug 21, 2024
Request for Continued Examination
Aug 25, 2024
Response after Non-Final Action
Nov 15, 2024
Non-Final Rejection — §102
May 13, 2025
Response Filed
Oct 29, 2025
Final Rejection — §102
Jan 29, 2026
Response after Non-Final Action
Mar 02, 2026
Request for Continued Examination
Mar 10, 2026
Response after Non-Final Action
Mar 21, 2026
Non-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

7-8
Expected OA Rounds
79%
Grant Probability
87%
With Interview (+7.8%)
2y 4m
Median Time to Grant
High
PTA Risk
Based on 1669 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allow rate.

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