Prosecution Insights
Last updated: July 17, 2026
Application No. 17/601,289

VERY-LONG-CHAIN POLYUNSATURATED FATTY ACIDS, ELOVANOID HYDROXYLATED DERIVATIVES, AND METHODS OF USE

Non-Final OA §112
Filed
Oct 04, 2021
Priority
Apr 04, 2019 — provisional 62/829,322 +1 more
Examiner
CARR, DEBORAH D
Art Unit
1691
Tech Center
1600 — Biotechnology & Organic Chemistry
Assignee
University of Southern California
OA Round
2 (Non-Final)
82%
Grant Probability
Favorable
2-3
OA Rounds
0m
Est. Remaining
84%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 82% — above average
82%
Career Allowance Rate
871 granted / 1066 resolved
+21.7% vs TC avg
Minimal +3% lift
Without
With
+2.6%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 4m
Avg Prosecution
44 currently pending
Career history
1102
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
2.2%
-37.8% vs TC avg
§103
41.2%
+1.2% vs TC avg
§102
14.8%
-25.2% vs TC avg
§112
28.7%
-11.3% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 1066 resolved cases

Office Action

§112
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 . Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112 The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112(b): (b) CONCLUSION.—The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor regards as the invention. The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph: The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the applicant regards as his invention. Claim 9 rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph, as being indefinite for failing to particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor (or for applications subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, the applicant), regards as the invention. Claim 9 is rejected as being of improper dependent form because a multiple dependent claim 7. Applicant may cancel the claim(s), amend the claim(s) to place the claim(s) in proper dependent form, or rewrite the claim(s) in independent form. Allowable Subject Matter Claims 1-8, 12-29 are allowed. Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to DEBORAH D CARR whose telephone number is (571)272-0637. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Friday (10:30 am -6:30 pm). 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, Renee Claytor can be reached at 572-272-8394. 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. /DEBORAH D CARR/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1691
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Oct 04, 2021
Application Filed
Nov 29, 2024
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §112
May 29, 2025
Response Filed
Jun 03, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §112 (current)

Precedent Cases

Applications granted by this same examiner with similar technology

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3y 1m to grant Granted Jul 14, 2026
Patent 12667550
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3y 11m to grant Granted Jun 30, 2026
Patent 12668560
A METHOD FOR THE PREPARATION OF 1,2-PROPANEDIOL AND DIPROPYLENE GLYCOL
3y 2m to grant Granted Jun 30, 2026
Patent 12668565
PROCESS FOR HYDROGENATION OF PHTHALATE COMPOUND
3y 0m to grant Granted Jun 30, 2026
Patent 12662446
A PROCESS FOR THE SYNTHESIS OF ANTHRANILIC ACID/AMIDE COMPOUNDS AND INTERMEDIATES THEREOF
3y 3m to grant Granted Jun 23, 2026
Study what changed to get past this examiner. Based on 5 most recent grants.

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Prosecution Projections

2-3
Expected OA Rounds
82%
Grant Probability
84%
With Interview (+2.6%)
2y 4m (~0m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Moderate
PTA Risk
Based on 1066 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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