Prosecution Insights
Last updated: April 19, 2026
Application No. 17/998,198

TREATMENT OF PROSTATE CANCER WITH A COMBINATION OF ABIRATERONE ACETATE AND NIRAPARIB

Final Rejection §102§112
Filed
Nov 08, 2022
Examiner
STOICA, ELLY GERALD
Art Unit
1647
Tech Center
1600 — Biotechnology & Organic Chemistry
Assignee
Janssen Pharmaceutica NV
OA Round
2 (Final)
67%
Grant Probability
Favorable
3-4
OA Rounds
2y 8m
To Grant
89%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 67% — above average
67%
Career Allow Rate
807 granted / 1211 resolved
+6.6% vs TC avg
Strong +23% interview lift
Without
With
+22.7%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 8m
Avg Prosecution
31 currently pending
Career history
1242
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
3.9%
-36.1% vs TC avg
§103
26.7%
-13.3% vs TC avg
§102
19.9%
-20.1% vs TC avg
§112
34.1%
-5.9% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 1211 resolved cases

Office Action

§102 §112
DETAILED ACTION 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 In the amendment filed on 01/27/2026 Applicant amended claims 59, 63, 67-70, canceled claims 64 and 66 and added the new claims 91-93. Claims 59-63, 65 and 67-93 are pending; claims 71-84 remain withdrawn from prosecution for being drawn to non-elected subject matter. Claims 59-63, 65, 67-70 and 85-93 are examined. Withdrawn claim rejections Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102 The rejection of claims 59-63, 66, 69 and 85-90 under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Yu et al. is withdrawn in view of the amendments to the claims. 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 90 is 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. Specifically, the claim indicates a method of treating a prostate cancer by administration of a pharmaceutical formulation in a fixed-dose combination (FDC) as defined in any one of Tables 1-12. According to MPEP 2173.05(s), "Where possible, claims are to be complete in themselves. Incorporation by reference to a specific figure or table 'is permitted only in exceptional circumstances where there is no practical way to define the invention in words and where it is more concise to incorporate by reference than duplicating a drawing or table into the claim. Incorporation by reference is a necessity doctrine, not for applicant’s convenience.' Ex parte Fressola, 27 USPQ2d 1608, 1609 (Bd. Pat. App. & Inter. 1993)". Thus, the claiming through “Tables 1-12” is indefinite and the metes and bounds of the claim could not be determined. Applicant is advised include the tables contents into the claim itself. There is no limit to the length of a claim. If the subject matter can be listed in the specification, that list can be copied and pasted into a claim. Allowable Subject Matter Claims 59-63, 65, 67-70 and 85-89 and 91-93 are allowed. Conclusion Claims 59-63, 65, 67-70 and 85-89 and 91-93 are allowed. Claim 90 is not allowed. 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 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 ELLY GERALD STOICA whose telephone number is (571)272-9941. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 8-5 EST. 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, Joanne Hama can be reached at 571-272-2911. 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. ELLY-GERALD STOICA Primary Examiner Art Unit 1647 /Elly-Gerald Stoica/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1647
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Nov 08, 2022
Application Filed
Oct 27, 2025
Non-Final Rejection — §102, §112
Jan 27, 2026
Response Filed
Mar 13, 2026
Final Rejection — §102, §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
67%
Grant Probability
89%
With Interview (+22.7%)
2y 8m
Median Time to Grant
Moderate
PTA Risk
Based on 1211 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allow rate.

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