Prosecution Insights
Last updated: May 29, 2026
Application No. 17/607,577

SUBSTITUTED (PIPERIDIN-1-YL)ARYL ANALOGUES FOR MODULATING AVIL ACTIVITY

Non-Final OA §102
Filed
Oct 29, 2021
Priority
May 02, 2019 — provisional 62/842,307 +1 more
Examiner
SCHMIDT, IZABELA MARIA
Art Unit
1621
Tech Center
1600 — Biotechnology & Organic Chemistry
Assignee
UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA PATENT FOUNDATION
OA Round
4 (Non-Final)
63%
Grant Probability
Moderate
4-5
OA Rounds
0m
Est. Remaining
99%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 63% of resolved cases
63%
Career Allowance Rate
53 granted / 84 resolved
+3.1% vs TC avg
Strong +54% interview lift
Without
With
+53.5%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
3y 2m
Avg Prosecution
30 currently pending
Career history
119
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§103
29.4%
-10.6% vs TC avg
§102
11.2%
-28.8% vs TC avg
§112
5.4%
-34.6% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 84 resolved cases

Office Action

§102
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 . FINAL ACTION Priority Instant application 17/607,577 filed on 10/29/2021 claims benefit as follow: CONTINUING DATA: PNG media_image1.png 47 494 media_image1.png Greyscale Status of the Application Claims 1-3, 13-14, 16-17, 19-20, 24-25, 29-31, 33-34, 41-42 and 44 are pending. 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and the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e) has been timely paid, the finality of the previous Office action has been withdrawn pursuant to 37 CFR 1.114.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 06/23/2025 has been entered. Information Disclosure Statement All references from IDS documents received 10/15/2025, 07/10/2023, 01/23/2023 and 10/29/2021 have been considered unless marked with strikethrough Response to Arguments/Amendments The amendment filled on 10/16/2025 has been entered. Applicant amended claims 1, 13, 24 and 25. As submitted by Applicants: PNG media_image2.png 715 715 media_image2.png Greyscale PNG media_image3.png 113 563 media_image3.png Greyscale Applicant’s arguments and Applicant’s amendment overcome the 102 rejections of record, therefore the 102 rejections are withdrawn. However, Applicant’s amendment necessitated new grounds of rejections presented in this office action. Examiner has moved onto alternative species embodied within the general formula recited in the amended claim 1, and subsequent examination is based on this species expansion. Election/Restrictions Applicant elected without traverse of Group (products claims) in the reply filed on 10/09/2024. Claims 41 and 42 are withdrawn from further consideration pursuant to 37 CFR 1.142(b) as being drawn to a nonelected invention, there being no allowable generic or linking claim. Election was made without traverse in the reply filed on 10/09/2024. With regard to species election Applicant elected: PNG media_image4.png 162 429 media_image4.png Greyscale As per MPEP 803.02, the Examiner will attempt to determine whether the entire scope of the claims is patentable. Applicants' elected species, as shown above, does make a contribution over the prior art. Therefore, according to MPEP 803.02: should the elected species appear allowable; the search of the Markush-type claim will be extended. The search and examination should be continued until either (1) prior art is found that anticipates or renders obvious a species that falls within the scope of a proper Markush grouping that includes the elected species, or (2) it is determined that no prior art rejection of any species that falls within the scope of a proper Markush grouping that includes the elected species can be made. The Examiner need not extend the search beyond a proper Markush grouping. Species Election A careful review of the prior art has indicated that elected species is free of the prior art. A claim directed to the elected species in independent form would be free of the prior art. Please note that the elected species does not fall under the general formula recited in claim 1 (the instant general formula require nitrogen in a position adjacent to the piperidine ring). Examiner has moved onto alternative species embodied within the general formula recited in the amended claim 1, and subsequent examination is based on this species expansion. The whole scope of claim 1 has not been searched. The examined species are: PNG media_image5.png 105 169 media_image5.png Greyscale PNG media_image6.png 96 188 media_image6.png Greyscale PNG media_image7.png 165 189 media_image7.png Greyscale PNG media_image8.png 136 251 media_image8.png Greyscale . Claims 33 and 34 are withdrawn from further consideration pursuant to 37 CFR 1.142(b) as not reading on the expanded species, there being no allowable generic or linking claim. Election was made without traverse in the reply filed on 10/09/2024. 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. (a)(2) the claimed invention was described in a patent issued under section 151, or in an application for patent published or deemed published under section 122(b), in which the patent or application, as the case may be, names another inventor and was effectively filed before the effective filing date of the claimed invention. Claims 1-3, 14, 17, 29-31 and 44 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by STN (CAS Registry Number 1249903-07-8 (entered STN 11/01/2010)) evidenced by UkrOrgSyntez website (printed 02/23/2025). STN discloses the following compound - CAS Registry 1249903-07-8: PNG media_image9.png 609 769 media_image9.png Greyscale The above compound (CAS RN 1249903-07-8) falls under the general formula recited in the instant claim 1: PNG media_image10.png 143 188 media_image10.png Greyscale wherein X is N, Y is CR40, R40 is hydrogen, Z is CR50, R50 is hydrogen, R1 is hydrogen, R6a is hydrogen, R6b is hydrogen, R5a is C1 hydroxyalkyl, R5b hydrogen. Regarding claim 17, R5a is -CH2OH. Regarding claim 29, the above compound falls under the first formula recited in claim 29: PNG media_image11.png 93 128 media_image11.png Greyscale wherein X is N, Y is CR40, R40 is hydrogen, Z is CR50, R50 is hydrogen, R1 is hydrogen, R6a is hydrogen, R6b is hydrogen, and R5b hydrogen. Regarding claim 30, the above compound falls under the first structure recited in claim 30: PNG media_image12.png 125 157 media_image12.png Greyscale wherein R1 is hydrogen, R40 is hydrogen, R50 is hydrogen R6a is hydrogen, R6b is hydrogen, and R5b hydrogen. Regarding instant claim 31, as evidenced by UkrOrgSyntez website (printed 02/23/2025), UkrOrgSyntez is a screening library that provides “screening libraries and building blocks for small molecule drug discovery.” Since the above compound is registered in the screening library, one of ordinary skill in the art would ‘at once envisage’ formulating compound 1249903-07-8 into a pharmaceutical composition comprising said compound and the pharmaceutically acceptable carrier DMSO in order to test the efficacy of said screening library compound on a variety of diseases. (See also MPEP 2131.02 III). Claims 1-3, 13, 14, 17, 31 and 44 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by (CAS Registry Number 1490246-08-6 (entered STN 12/08/2013)) evidenced by Aurora Fine Chemicals website (printed 7/11/2025), STN 1490246-08-6 discloses the following compound: PNG media_image13.png 675 768 media_image13.png Greyscale The above compound (1490246-08-6) falls under the general formula recited in the instant claim 1: PNG media_image10.png 143 188 media_image10.png Greyscale wherein X is N, Y is CR40, Z is CR50, wherein R40 and R50 are covalently bonded and together with the intermediate carbon, comprise 6-membered aryl, R1 is halogen (chloro), R6a is hydrogen, R6b is hydrogen, R5a is CF3, R5b hydrogen. Regarding claim 17, R5a is -CF3. Regarding instant claim 31, as evidenced by Aurora Fine Chemicals website (printed 7/11/2025), “Aurora's chemical library is a collection of stocked chemicals used in high throughput screening, medicinal chemistry, common drug design as well as in chemical research.” Since the above compound is registered in the screening library, one of ordinary skill in the art would ‘at once envisage’ formulating compound 1490246-08-6 into a pharmaceutical composition comprising said compound and the pharmaceutically acceptable carrier DMSO in order to test the efficacy of said screening library compound on a variety of diseases. (See also MPEP 2131.02 III). Claims 1-3, 14, 17, 31 and 44 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by STN (CAS Registry Number 1339671-89-4 (entered STN 11/02/2011)) evidenced by UkrOrgSyntez website (printed 02/23/2025). STN discloses the following compound - CAS Registry 1339671-89-4: PNG media_image14.png 607 765 media_image14.png Greyscale The above compound (CAS RN 1339671-89-4) falls under the general formula recited in the instant claim 1: PNG media_image10.png 143 188 media_image10.png Greyscale wherein X is N, Y is CR40, R40 is hydrogen, Z is CR50, R50 is hydrogen, R1 is hydrogen, R6a is hydrogen, R6b is hydrogen, R5a is -CH2Cl, R5b hydrogen. Regarding claim 17, R5a is -CH2Cl. Regarding instant claim 31, as evidenced by UkrOrgSyntez website (printed 02/23/2025), UkrOrgSyntez is a screening library that provides “screening libraries and building blocks for small molecule drug discovery.” Since the above compound is registered in the screening library, one of ordinary skill in the art would ‘at once envisage’ formulating compound 1339671-89-4 into a pharmaceutical composition comprising said compound and the pharmaceutically acceptable carrier DMSO in order to test the efficacy of said screening library compound on a variety of diseases. (See also MPEP 2131.02 III). Claims 1, 2, 3, 14, 16, 17, 19, 20, 24, 25, 29, 30, 31 and 44 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by STN (CAS RN 1332217-43-2 entered to STN 09/14/2011) evidenced by ChemBridge website (printed 02/23/2025). STN discloses the following compound (CAS Registry 1332217-43-2): PNG media_image15.png 726 761 media_image15.png Greyscale The above compound (RN 1332217-43-2) falls under the general formula recited in the instant claim 1: PNG media_image10.png 143 188 media_image10.png Greyscale wherein X is N, Y is CR40, R40 is C1 alkyl (methyl), Z is CR50, R50 is C1 alkyl (methyl), R1 is hydrogen, R6a is hydrogen, R6b is hydrogen, R5b is C3 alkanediyl-aryl, R5a is C1 hydroxyalkyl. Regarding claim 16, the aryl is phenyl. Regarding claim 17, R5a is -CH2OH. Regarding claim 19, R5b is C3 alkanediyl-aryl. Regarding claim 20, R5b is C3 alkanediyl-phenyl. Regarding claims 24 and 25, R40 is C1 alkyl (methyl) and R50 is C1 alkyl (methyl). Regarding claim 29, the above compound falls under the second formula recited in claim 30: PNG media_image16.png 108 259 media_image16.png Greyscale wherein X is N, Y is CR40, R40 is C1 alkyl (methyl), Z is CR50, R50 is C1 alkyl (methyl), R1 is hydrogen, R6a is hydrogen, R6b is hydrogen, R5a is C1 hydroxyalkyl. Regarding claims 30, the above compound falls under the last formula recited in claim 30: PNG media_image17.png 123 247 media_image17.png Greyscale wherein R40 is C1 alkyl (methyl), R50 is C1 alkyl (methyl), R1 is hydrogen. Regarding instant claim 31, as evidenced by ChemBridge website (printed 02/23/2025), ChemBridge is a screening library that provides “small molecule, lead-like and drug-like screening compounds.” Since the above compound is registered in the screening library, one of ordinary skill in the art would ‘at once envisage’ formulating compound 1332217-43-2 into a pharmaceutical composition comprising said compound and the pharmaceutically acceptable carrier DMSO in order to test the efficacy of said screening library compound on a variety of diseases. (See also MPEP 2131.02 III). Conclusion No claim is allowed. 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 IZABELA SCHMIDT whose telephone number is (703)756-4787. The examiner can normally be reached Monday - Friday from 9 am to 5 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, Clinton A Brooks can be reached at (571)270-7682. 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. /I.S./Examiner, Art Unit 1621 /CLINTON A BROOKS/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 1621
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Show 4 earlier events
May 28, 2025
Response after Non-Final Action
Jun 23, 2025
Request for Continued Examination
Jun 23, 2025
Response after Non-Final Action
Jul 16, 2025
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §102
Oct 16, 2025
Response Filed
Nov 07, 2025
Final Rejection mailed — §102
Dec 22, 2025
Response after Non-Final Action
Jan 22, 2026
Response after Non-Final Action

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

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Prosecution Projections

4-5
Expected OA Rounds
63%
Grant Probability
99%
With Interview (+53.5%)
3y 2m (~0m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
High
PTA Risk
Based on 84 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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