Prosecution Insights
Last updated: May 29, 2026
Application No. 17/761,737

SMALL-MOLECULE INHIBITORS FOR THE B-CATENIN/B-CELL LYMPHOMA 9 PROTEIN-PROTEIN INTERACTION

Non-Final OA §112
Filed
Mar 18, 2022
Priority
Sep 20, 2019 — provisional 62/903,228 +1 more
Examiner
HASTINGS, ALISON AZAR
Art Unit
1627
Tech Center
1600 — Biotechnology & Organic Chemistry
Assignee
H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Inc.
OA Round
3 (Non-Final)
63%
Grant Probability
Moderate
3-4
OA Rounds
0m
Est. Remaining
99%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 63% of resolved cases
63%
Career Allowance Rate
44 granted / 70 resolved
+2.9% vs TC avg
Strong +39% interview lift
Without
With
+38.8%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
3y 3m
Avg Prosecution
38 currently pending
Career history
109
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
1.1%
-38.9% vs TC avg
§103
42.9%
+2.9% vs TC avg
§102
12.2%
-27.8% vs TC avg
§112
5.3%
-34.7% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 70 resolved cases

Office Action

§112
DETAILED ACTION All rejections and objections not listed below have been withdrawn. 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and the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e) has been timely paid, the finality of the previous Office action has been withdrawn pursuant to 37 CFR 1.114.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 12/10/2025 has been entered. 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 . Election/Restrictions The restriction requirement as set forth in the Office action mailed on 01/06/2025 , has been reconsidered in view of the allowability of claims to the elected invention pursuant to MPEP § 821.04(a). The restriction requirement is hereby withdrawn as to any claim that requires all the limitations of an allowable claim. Specifically, the restriction requirement of 01/06/2025 is withdrawn. Claims 3, 17, and 33-34 , directed to compounds of Formula I-B and I-C and their methods of use are no longer withdrawn from consideration because the claim(s) requires all the limitations of an allowable claim. In view of the above noted withdrawal of the restriction requirement, applicant is advised that if any claim presented in a divisional application is anticipated by, or includes all the limitations of, a claim that is allowable in the present application, such claim may be subject to provisional statutory and/or nonstatutory double patenting rejections over the claims of the instant application. Once a restriction requirement is withdrawn, the provisions of 35 U.S.C. 121 are no longer applicable. See In re Ziegler, 443 F.2d 1211, 1215, 170 USPQ 129, 131-32 (CCPA 1971). See also MPEP § 804.01. Priority Applicant’s claim for the benefit of a prior-filed application under 35 U.S.C. 119(e) or under 35 U.S.C. 120, 121, 365(c), or 386(c) is acknowledged. Applicant has not complied with one or more conditions for receiving the benefit of an earlier filing date under 35 U.S.C. 120 as follows: The later-filed application must be an application for a patent for an invention which is also disclosed in the prior application (the parent or original nonprovisional application or provisional application). The disclosure of the invention in the parent application and in the later-filed application must be sufficient to comply with the requirements of 35 U.S.C. 112(a) or the first paragraph of pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, except for the best mode requirement. See Transco Products, Inc. v. Performance Contracting, Inc., 38 F.3d 551, 32 USPQ2d 1077 (Fed. Cir. 1994). The disclosure of the prior-filed application, Application No. 62/903,228, fails to provide adequate support or enablement in the manner provided by 35 U.S.C. 112(a) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, first paragraph for one or more claims of this application. The application 62/903,228 lacks support for: n>1, R15, and variable W because of this lack of support, all claims have been examined with a priority date of 9/21/2020. Information Disclosure Statement The information disclosure statements (IDS) submitted on 03/18/2022 and 01/18/2024 are being considered by the examiner. 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 3 are 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 3 rely on “X is selected from O, N, -R'O, or -R'N, wherein R' is selected from C1-C3 alkyl” it is unclear when X is -R'O, or -R'N how the groups would be connected to the rest of the formula. Would the formula be connected to one atom on the R group or different atoms on the R group can the formula be connected to the hetero atom? The scope of the formula is unclear and thus the scope is indefinite. Allowable Subject Matter Claims 4, 5, 6, 9, 11, 15-19, 21-22, 26-27, 33- 36 are allowed. Conclusion Claim 3 is rejected. 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

Mar 18, 2022
Application Filed
Apr 25, 2025
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §112
Jul 25, 2025
Response Filed
Aug 11, 2025
Final Rejection mailed — §112
Dec 10, 2025
Response after Non-Final Action
Jan 07, 2026
Request for Continued Examination
Jan 13, 2026
Response after Non-Final Action
Feb 24, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §112 (current)

Precedent Cases

Applications granted by this same examiner with similar technology

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4y 3m to grant Granted May 26, 2026
Patent 12637435
NITROGEN-CONTAINING HETEROCYCLIC COMPOUND OR SALT THEREOF, USE THEREOF, AND INTERMEDIATE THEREOF
3y 4m to grant Granted May 26, 2026
Patent 12624044
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4y 5m to grant Granted May 12, 2026
Patent 12624011
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Patent 12616684
PULMONARY FIBROSIS MEDICINE CONTAINING PYRAZOLE DERIVATIVE
3y 6m to grant Granted May 05, 2026
Study what changed to get past this examiner. Based on 5 most recent grants.

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Prosecution Projections

3-4
Expected OA Rounds
63%
Grant Probability
99%
With Interview (+38.8%)
3y 3m (~0m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
High
PTA Risk
Based on 70 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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