Prosecution Insights
Last updated: April 19, 2026
Application No. 17/779,753

REDUCTION IN ACETATE PRODUCTION BY YEAST OVER-EXPRESSING MIG3

Final Rejection §112
Filed
May 25, 2022
Examiner
FRONDA, CHRISTIAN L
Art Unit
1652
Tech Center
1600 — Biotechnology & Organic Chemistry
Assignee
Danisco US Inc.
OA Round
2 (Final)
82%
Grant Probability
Favorable
3-4
OA Rounds
2y 8m
To Grant
96%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 82% — above average
82%
Career Allow Rate
1099 granted / 1333 resolved
+22.4% vs TC avg
Moderate +14% lift
Without
With
+14.1%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 8m
Avg Prosecution
44 currently pending
Career history
1377
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
4.5%
-35.5% vs TC avg
§103
26.2%
-13.8% vs TC avg
§102
7.2%
-32.8% vs TC avg
§112
37.1%
-2.9% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 1333 resolved cases

Office Action

§112
DETAILED ACTION The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA . Claims 13, 15-20, 22, 23, 25, 27-30 are pending in the instant application. In view of the claim amendment and arguments filed 11/18/2025, all previous claim rejections have been withdrawn in favor of the instant rejection of the claims stated below. Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ) 2nd Paragraph 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. Claims 13, 15-17, 20, 22, 23, 25, 27-30 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 pre-AIA the applicant regards as the invention. Claim 13 recites the phrase “producing modified yeast cells by introducing into parental yeast cells a genetic alteration that increases the production of MIG transcription regulator polypeptides compared to the amount produced by the parental cells” which renders the claim vague and indefinite since the specific genetic alterations are not known and not recited in the claim. Dependent claims 15-17, 20, 22, 23, 25, 27-30 are also rejected because they do not correct the defects. Claim 28 recites the phrase “introducing into parental yeast cells a genetic alteration that increases the production of MIG2 transcription regulator polypeptides compared to the amount produced by the parental cells” which renders the claim vague and indefinite since the specific genetic alterations are not known and not recited in the claim. Dependent claim 29 is also rejected because they do not correct the defects. Conclusion No claim is allowed. Claims 18, 19 are objected to as being dependent upon a rejected base claim, but would be allowable if rewritten in independent form including all of the limitations of the base claim and any intervening claims. . THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL 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 extension fee pursuant to 37 R 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 Christian L Fronda whose telephone number is (571)272 0929. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Thursday and alternate Fridays between 9:00AM-5:00PM. 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, Robert Mondesi can be reached on (408)918-7584. 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. /CHRISTIAN L FRONDA/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1652
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

May 25, 2022
Application Filed
Aug 14, 2025
Non-Final Rejection — §112
Nov 18, 2025
Response Filed
Mar 06, 2026
Final Rejection — §112 (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

3-4
Expected OA Rounds
82%
Grant Probability
96%
With Interview (+14.1%)
2y 8m
Median Time to Grant
Moderate
PTA Risk
Based on 1333 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allow rate.

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