Prosecution Insights
Last updated: July 17, 2026
Application No. 17/767,031

ATF6 MODULATORS AND USES THEREOF

Final Rejection §102
Filed
Apr 06, 2022
Priority
Oct 09, 2019 — provisional 62/913,126 +1 more
Examiner
ROBINSON, MIKHAIL O'DONNEL
Art Unit
1627
Tech Center
1600 — Biotechnology & Organic Chemistry
Assignee
Altos Labs Inc.
OA Round
3 (Final)
58%
Grant Probability
Moderate
4-5
OA Rounds
0m
Est. Remaining
99%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 58% of resolved cases
58%
Career Allowance Rate
69 granted / 120 resolved
-2.5% vs TC avg
Strong +43% interview lift
Without
With
+42.7%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
3y 4m
Avg Prosecution
43 currently pending
Career history
159
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
0.9%
-39.1% vs TC avg
§103
64.5%
+24.5% vs TC avg
§102
11.7%
-28.3% vs TC avg
§112
6.8%
-33.2% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 120 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 . Response to Arguments Applicant’s arguments, see Pages 1-2, filed 03/24/2026, with respect to the rejection(s) of claims 1-7, 20, 24-25 and 31-33 under Wrona et al. (WO 2019209962 A1) and the Double Patenting Rejection of claims 1-29 and 31-39 over U.S. Patent No. 12325702 have been fully considered and are persuasive. Therefore, the rejection has been withdrawn. However, upon further consideration, a new ground(s) of rejection is made in view of Alfaro et al. (US Patent No. 20190367497). Alfano teaches compounds as inhibitors for activating Transcription Factor 6 (ATF6), that are used as therapeutic agents for the treatment of diseases or disorders mediated by ATF6 comprising the compounds of claimed invention. Applicant has canceled claims 3-7, 20-21, 24 and added claim 49. No new matter was added. Claims 1-2, 8-19, 22-23, 25-39 and 49 are pending. Claims 1-2, 8-19, 22-23, 25-39 and 49 are now evaluated on its merits. Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102 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)(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 1-2, 8-19, 22-23, 25-39 and 49 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) as being anticipated by Alfaro et al. (US Patent No. 20190367497), published 12/05/2019, with a U.S priority date of 04/06/2018. The applied reference has a common joint inventor with the instant application. Based upon the earlier effectively filed date of the reference, it constitutes prior art under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2). This rejection under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) might be overcome by: (1) a showing under 37 CFR 1.130(a) that the subject matter disclosed in the reference was obtained directly or indirectly from the inventor or a joint inventor of this application and is thus not prior art in accordance with 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(2)(A); (2) a showing under 37 CFR 1.130(b) of a prior public disclosure under 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(2)(B) if the same invention is not being claimed; or (3) a statement pursuant to 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(2)(C) establishing that, not later than the effective filing date of the claimed invention, the subject matter disclosed in the reference and the claimed invention were either owned by the same person or subject to an obligation of assignment to the same person or subject to a joint research agreement. Regarding claims 1-2, 8-19, 22-23, 25-39 and 49, Alfaro teaches a method of treating a disease or disorder mediated by activating transcription factor 6 (ATF6α) in an individual in need thereof, comprising administering to the individual a therapeutically effective amount of a composition of Formula (I) PNG media_image1.png 121 240 media_image1.png Greyscale , or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof and an acceptable carrier (relevant to claim 25) (para. 0022). Of the diseases or disorders Alfaro teaches a viral infection, hereditary cerebellar atrophy and ataxia, or Alzheimer's disease, type 2 diabetes mellitus, diabetic nephropathy, myocardial atrophy, heart failure, atherosclerosis, ischemia, ischemic heart disease, or cerebral ischemia (relevant to claims 26-31, 34-37) (para. 0012). In some embodiments Formula (I) is provided as a method of treating a disease or disorder associated with angiogenesis (relevant to claim 32) (para. 0018), a metabolic disorder (relevant to claim 33) (para. 0465) and inhibiting ATF6 in an individual (relevant to claims 38-39) (para. 0020). Of the above Formula (I), Alfaro teaches A as PNG media_image2.png 58 94 media_image2.png Greyscale , PNG media_image3.png 68 92 media_image3.png Greyscale , PNG media_image4.png 56 94 media_image4.png Greyscale wherein Ra and Rb is 2-furyl (para. 0058), pyrimidinyl, pyrazinyl and pyridyl (para. 0134) and compounds PNG media_image5.png 159 304 media_image5.png Greyscale , PNG media_image6.png 135 324 media_image6.png Greyscale , PNG media_image7.png 146 321 media_image7.png Greyscale , PNG media_image8.png 187 305 media_image8.png Greyscale , PNG media_image9.png 135 290 media_image9.png Greyscale , PNG media_image10.png 126 286 media_image10.png Greyscale (relevant to claims 2, 8-18, 22 and 49) (Table 1). Alfaro additionally teaches R1 and R3 can be taken together to form a 6 membered ring (relevant to claims 19 and 23) (para. 0049). 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 MIKHAIL O'DONNEL ROBINSON whose telephone number is (571)270-0777. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Friday 7:30am-5:30pm. 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. MIKHAIL O'DONNEL. ROBINSON Examiner Art Unit 1627 /MIKHAIL O'DONNEL ROBINSON/ Examiner, Art Unit 1627 /SARAH PIHONAK/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1627
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Apr 06, 2022
Application Filed
Jan 13, 2025
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §102
Jul 14, 2025
Response Filed
Sep 24, 2025
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §102
Mar 24, 2026
Response Filed
Apr 20, 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

4-5
Expected OA Rounds
58%
Grant Probability
99%
With Interview (+42.7%)
3y 4m (~0m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
High
PTA Risk
Based on 120 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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