Prosecution Insights
Last updated: April 19, 2026
Application No. 17/913,631

Process for the Production of Ferroportin Inhibitors

Final Rejection §112
Filed
Sep 22, 2022
Examiner
JARRELL, NOBLE E
Art Unit
1699
Tech Center
1600 — Biotechnology & Organic Chemistry
Assignee
VIFOR (INTERNATIONAL) AG
OA Round
2 (Final)
81%
Grant Probability
Favorable
3-4
OA Rounds
3y 2m
To Grant
90%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 81% — above average
81%
Career Allow Rate
824 granted / 1014 resolved
+21.3% vs TC avg
Moderate +9% lift
Without
With
+8.7%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
3y 2m
Avg Prosecution
56 currently pending
Career history
1070
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
1.1%
-38.9% vs TC avg
§103
16.0%
-24.0% vs TC avg
§102
20.9%
-19.1% vs TC avg
§112
41.9%
+1.9% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 1014 resolved cases

Office Action

§112
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 Amendment The 2025 December 19 amendment containing newly amended claims 17-35 and 38-40 is acknowledged. The 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103 rejections are overcome because claims 36 and 37 are cancelled. Claim Objections Claims 17-35 and 38-40 are objected to because of the following informalities: the specified claims contain structures that are gray and are consequently difficult to interpret. For example, a compound of formula (I) would be more legible if it we written as the following: PNG media_image1.png 244 1011 media_image1.png Greyscale . A compound of formula (M-3) would be more legible if it appeared as the following: PNG media_image2.png 255 593 media_image2.png Greyscale . This same issue applies to each gray image in the claims. Appropriate correction is required. 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. Claims 18, 23, and 34 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. In claim 18, a compound of formula (RM-2), the octet of the terminal nitrogen is not filled and no third group is attached to the nitrogen. In claim 23 step 2, what group is attached to the NH group of (RM-2)? In claim 25 step 2-a, what group is attached to the NH group of (RM-2-a)? In claim 26, step 2-a, what group is attached to the NH group of (RM-2-a’)? Allowable Subject Matter Claims 17-35 and 38-40 are not allowed. The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter: Durrenberger (WO 2017/068090, filed 2017 April 27) describes general scheme 7. This representative process does not anticipate or render obvious a synthetic process of claim 17 because the reactants are different due to the functional groups attached are different. For example, an aldehyde group is attached to a thiazole ring. Additionally, an unsubstituted amine is attached to a benzimidazole ring. PNG media_image3.png 308 880 media_image3.png Greyscale 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 NOBLE E JARRELL whose telephone number is (571)272-9077. The examiner can normally be reached 9:00 AM to 5:00 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, Fereydoun Sajjadi can be reached at 571-272-3311. 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. /NOBLE E JARRELL/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1699
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Sep 22, 2022
Application Filed
Jul 17, 2025
Non-Final Rejection — §112
Dec 19, 2025
Response Filed
Mar 25, 2026
Final Rejection — §112 (current)

Precedent Cases

Applications granted by this same examiner with similar technology

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PROCESS FOR PRODUCING 4,5-DIHYDRO-1H-PYRAZOLES AND INTERMEDIATES
2y 5m to grant Granted Apr 07, 2026
Patent 12595265
INHIBITORS OF ACTIVIN RECEPTOR-LIKE KINASE
2y 5m to grant Granted Apr 07, 2026
Patent 12588410
ORGANIC ELECTROLUMINESCENT MATERIAL AND METHOD PREPARING THE SAME
2y 5m to grant Granted Mar 24, 2026
Patent 12570660
PROCESS FOR THE PREPARATION OF A PYRIMIDINO-DIAZEPINE DERIVATIVE
2y 5m to grant Granted Mar 10, 2026
Patent 12570626
DEGRADERS AND DEGRONS FOR TARGETED PROTEIN DEGRADATION
2y 5m to grant Granted Mar 10, 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
81%
Grant Probability
90%
With Interview (+8.7%)
3y 2m
Median Time to Grant
Moderate
PTA Risk
Based on 1014 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allow rate.

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