Prosecution Insights
Last updated: July 17, 2026
Application No. 17/282,319

Transcription Factor BRN2 Inhibitory Compounds as Therapeutics and Methods for Their Use

Final Rejection §102
Filed
Apr 01, 2021
Priority
Oct 03, 2018 — provisional 62/740,629 +1 more
Examiner
VAJDA, KRISTIN ANN
Art Unit
1622
Tech Center
1600 — Biotechnology & Organic Chemistry
Assignee
The University of British Columbia
OA Round
4 (Final)
84%
Grant Probability
Favorable
5-6
OA Rounds
0m
Est. Remaining
95%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 84% — above average
84%
Career Allowance Rate
1351 granted / 1609 resolved
+24.0% vs TC avg
Moderate +11% lift
Without
With
+10.9%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Fast prosecutor
1y 9m
Avg Prosecution
40 currently pending
Career history
1641
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
2.3%
-37.7% vs TC avg
§103
14.5%
-25.5% vs TC avg
§102
27.9%
-12.1% vs TC avg
§112
25.2%
-14.8% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 1609 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 . Claims 1-14, 16-18, 23, 34, and 35 are pending in the instant application. Claims 9, 14, 16-18, and 23 are withdrawn from further consideration pursuant to 37 CFR 1.142(b) as being drawn to non-elected subject matter. Claims 1-6, 8, 10, 11, 13, 34, and 35 are rejected. Claims 7 and 12 are objected. Election/Restrictions It is noted that the search of the Markush-type claim has been extended to the non-elected species wherein: a compound having the structure of Formula I wherein PNG media_image1.png 35 38 media_image1.png Greyscale is a double bond; Q is absent; Z1 and Z2 are C; E2 is absent; E1 is L1-R1; L1 is PNG media_image2.png 66 86 media_image2.png Greyscale ; and the remaining variables are as defined in the claims. As prior art has been found which anticipates the above identified nonelected species, the Markush-type claims are rejected as follows and the subject matter of the claims drawn to nonelected species held withdrawn from consideration. Claims 1-8, 10-13, 34, and 35 have been examined to the extent that they are readable on the elected embodiment and the above identified nonelected species. Since art was found on the nonelected species, subject matter not embraced by the elected embodiment or the above identified nonelected species is therefore withdrawn from further consideration. Response to Amendment and Arguments/Remarks The amendment and arguments/remarks filed on March 24, 2026 have been fully considered and entered into the application. With regards to the 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) rejection as being anticipated by Kempter et al. and the claim objections, the grounds for rejection and objection are moot in view of Applicant’s amendment and the rejection and objection have been withdrawn. However, this amendment has necessitated new grounds of rejection under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1), which are described below. New 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. Claims 1-6, 8, 10, 11, and 13 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by US 2010/0280023 A1. US 2010/0280023 A1 discloses the intermediate compound 2-(Benzimidazol-2-yl)-4-(2-furyl)thiazole (see [0369]) which anticipates a compound of the instant claims wherein PNG media_image1.png 35 38 media_image1.png Greyscale is a double bond; Q is absent; G is N; J1 is N(H); Z1 and Z2 are C; E2 is absent; E1 is L1-R1; L1 is PNG media_image2.png 66 86 media_image2.png Greyscale ; D1-D4 are H; and R1 is PNG media_image3.png 66 60 media_image3.png Greyscale . Claims 1-6, 8, 10, 11, 34, and 35 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by U.S. Patent No. 5,958,950. U.S. Patent No. 5,958,950 discloses the compound Example 1 and a pharmaceutical composition thereof (see column 10) which anticipates a compound of the instant claims and a pharmaceutical composition thereof wherein PNG media_image1.png 35 38 media_image1.png Greyscale is a double bond; Q is absent; G is N; J1 is N(H); Z1 and Z2 are C; E2 is absent; E1 is L1-R1; L1 is PNG media_image2.png 66 86 media_image2.png Greyscale ; D1-D4 are H; and R1 is PNG media_image4.png 66 68 media_image4.png Greyscale . With respect to the art rejection above over claims 34 and 35, it is noted that the reference does not teach that the composition can be used in the manner instantly claimed (i.e. to treat cancer). However, the intended use of the claimed composition does not patentably distinguish the composition, per se, since such disclosed use is inherent in the reference composition. In order to be limiting, the intended use must create a structural difference between the claimed composition and the prior art composition. In the instant case, the intended use does not create a structural difference, thus the intended use is not limiting. Claim Objections Claims 7 and 12 are objected to for depending on a previously rejected claim. However, even if they are amended to be in independent form, they would still not be in condition for allowance because they contain non-elected subject matter. In other words, the subject matter or species which are not embraced by the elected embodiment or the above identified nonelected species have been withdrawn from further consideration. Conclusion 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 KRISTIN ANN VAJDA whose telephone number is (571)270-5232. The examiner can normally be reached Mon-Fri 6:00-4:00. 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, James Alstrum-Acevedo can be reached on 571-272-5548. 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. /KRISTIN A VAJDA/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1622
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Show 2 earlier events
Dec 18, 2024
Response Filed
Mar 10, 2025
Final Rejection mailed — §102
May 28, 2025
Response after Non-Final Action
Sep 08, 2025
Request for Continued Examination
Sep 11, 2025
Response after Non-Final Action
Sep 25, 2025
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §102
Mar 24, 2026
Response Filed
Jun 16, 2026
Final Rejection mailed — §102 (current)

Precedent Cases

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

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Prosecution Projections

5-6
Expected OA Rounds
84%
Grant Probability
95%
With Interview (+10.9%)
1y 9m (~0m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
High
PTA Risk
Based on 1609 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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