Prosecution Insights
Last updated: July 17, 2026
Application No. 17/999,408

SOLUBLE EPOXIDE HYDROLASE INHIBITORS AND METHOD OF USE THEREOF

Non-Final OA §102
Filed
Nov 21, 2022
Priority
May 26, 2020 — provisional 63/030,085 +2 more
Examiner
RZECZYCKI, PHILLIP MATTHEW
Art Unit
1625
Tech Center
1600 — Biotechnology & Organic Chemistry
Assignee
Baylor College of Medicine
OA Round
2 (Non-Final)
60%
Grant Probability
Moderate
2-3
OA Rounds
0m
Est. Remaining
99%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 60% of resolved cases
60%
Career Allowance Rate
67 granted / 111 resolved
At TC average
Strong +42% interview lift
Without
With
+42.3%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
3y 5m
Avg Prosecution
40 currently pending
Career history
164
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
0.6%
-39.4% vs TC avg
§103
38.8%
-1.2% vs TC avg
§102
6.0%
-34.0% vs TC avg
§112
20.0%
-20.0% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 111 resolved cases

Office Action

§102
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 . Election/Restrictions A new search was performed for a species wherein variables A1 through A6 are each C, X and Y are each N, variables R1 and R2 combine to form a 3-, 4-, 5-, or 6-membered heterocycloalkyl (substituted or unsubstituted), and for all variables R3 through R6, with prior art retrieved (See Updated STN Search, Search Notes). The search was then stopped as prior art was retrieved. Claims 5-9, 15, 18-27, and 29-31 remain withdrawn from further consideration pursuant to 37 CFR 1.142(b), as being drawn to a nonelected species and group, there being no allowable generic or linking claim. Applicant timely traversed the restriction (election) requirement in the reply filed on 4 December 2025. Current Status of 17/999,408 Claim 1 has undergone amendments. Claim 34 is newly added. Thus, Claims 1, 2, 4, 16, 33 and 34, submitted on 12 May 2026, represent all claims currently under consideration. In the event the determination of the status of the application as subject to AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103 (or as subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103) is incorrect, any correction of the statutory basis (i.e., changing from AIA to pre-AIA ) for the rejection will not be considered a new ground of rejection if the prior art relied upon, and the rationale supporting the rejection, would be the same under either status. Response to Arguments The rejections over Luk (WO 00/35920) are withdrawn. The currently amended compounds require a non-hydrogen atom at the variable R3 position, and there is no teaching, suggestion, or motivation found in Luk to substitute out the hydrogen which is present in the analogous variable R3 position. The rejection over Schiller (US 2022/0213089) is maintained. While Applicant has amended the claims to require that variable R3 is other than hydrogen, Schiller discloses several compounds which have the analogous variable R3 position containing cyano, halogen, and heterocycloalkyl. The rejections over Chen (WO 2018/002848) are withdrawn. Applicant has amended the claims to require that variable R3 is not hydrogen, and Chen does not disclose or suggest a compound where the analogous variable R3 is not hydrogen. The rejections over Simoneau (WO 2005/042530) are withdrawn. Applicant has amended the claims to require that only variables R1 and R2 can come together to form a heterocycloalkyl, with the compounds of Simoneau having analogous variables R3 and R4 coming together to form a heterocycloalkyl. The rejections over Deshmukh are each withdrawn. The compounds of Deshmukh each have variable R3 as hydrogen, and there is no teaching, suggestion, or motivation found to replace this hydrogen with another group. The provisional non-statutory double patenting rejection of Claims 1-2, 4, 16, and 33 over Claims 1, 3, 5, and 10 of co-pending application No. 19/140,283 is maintained as it is not the only rejection remaining. Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102- REJECTIONS MAINTAINED AND NEW GROUNDS OF REJECTION The text of those sections of Title 35, U.S. Code not included in this action can be found in a prior Office action. Claims 1, 2, 4, 16, and 33 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) as being anticipated by Schiller (US 2022/0213089; Publication Date: 7 July 2022; Priority to 15 March 2019). Schiller discloses inhibitors of CBP/p300 bromodomains (Abstract). Compounds disclosed include PNG media_image1.png 269 318 media_image1.png Greyscale , PNG media_image2.png 269 305 media_image2.png Greyscale , PNG media_image3.png 262 298 media_image3.png Greyscale (Figure 1, Sheet 61), PNG media_image4.png 268 317 media_image4.png Greyscale (Figure 1, Sheet 62), and PNG media_image5.png 268 322 media_image5.png Greyscale (Figure 1, Sheet 63). These compounds have variables A1-A6 each as C, variable R1 and R2 coming together to form a substituted heterocycloalkyl, variable R3 as halogen, cyano, or heterocycloalkyl, variable R4 as hydrogen, variable R5 as substituted alkyl, and variable R6 as substituted cycloalkyl. Another aspect of the present disclosure relates to a pharmaceutical composition comprising a compound of the invention and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier (Paragraph 0024). Claims 1, 2, and 33 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by STN Registry No. 1869989-84-3 (Entered STN: 18 February 2016). STN Registry No. 1869989-84-3 PNG media_image6.png 226 228 media_image6.png Greyscale has variables R1 and R2 coming together to form a 5-membered heterocycloalkyl, variables R3 and R4 each as methoxy, and variables R5 and R6 each as hydrogen. Claims 1, 2, and 33 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by STN Registry No. 1349431-61-3 (Entered STN: 6 December 2011). STN Registry No. 1349431-61-3 PNG media_image7.png 229 456 media_image7.png Greyscale has variables R1 and R2 coming together to form a 5-membered heterocycloalkyl, variables R3 and R4 each as fluorine, variable R5 as H, and variable R6 as substituted thio. Claims 1, 2, and 33 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by STN Registry No. 159724-75-1 (Entered STN: 22 December 1994). STN Registry No. 159724-75-1 PNG media_image8.png 218 230 media_image8.png Greyscale has variables R1 and R2 coming together to form a 5-membered heterocycloalkyl, variable R3 as bromine, and variables R5 and R6 each as H. Claims 1, 2, and 33 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by STN Registry No. 1350279-00-3 (Entered STN: 7 December 2011). STN Registry No. 1350279-00-3 PNG media_image9.png 308 339 media_image9.png Greyscale has variables R1 and R2 coming together to form a 6-membered heterocycloalkyl, variable R3 as substituted amino, variable R5 as methyl, and variable R6 as trifluoromethyl. Claims 1, 2, and 33 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by STN Registry No. 1350153-52-4 (Entered STN: 7 December 2011). STN Registry No. 1350153-52-4 PNG media_image10.png 330 428 media_image10.png Greyscale has variables R1 and R2 coming together to form a 6-membered heterocycloalkyl, variable R3 as alkoxy, variable R5 as methyl, and variable R6 as cycloalkyl. Claims 1, 2, and 33 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by STN Registry No. 1350042-43-1 (Entered STN: 7 December 2011). STN Registry No. 1350042-43-1 PNG media_image11.png 333 391 media_image11.png Greyscale has variables R1 and R2 coming together to form a 6-membered heterocycloalkyl, variable R3 as alkoxy, variable R5 as methyl, and variable R6 as trifluoromethyl. Claims 1, 2, 16, and 33-34 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Grillot (WO 02/060879; Publication Date: 8 August 2002). Grillot discloses the species PNG media_image12.png 157 267 media_image12.png Greyscale (Page 18, Compound 25), which has variables R1 and R2 coming together to form a 6-membered substituted heterocycle, variable R3 as heteroaryl, variable R6 as substituted amino, and variables X and Y each as N. Pharmaceutical compositions of the invention are also disclosed (Page 56, Lines 23-26). Claims 1, 2, 16, and 33-34 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Gharat (WO 2012/055995; Publication Date: 3 May 2012). Gharat discloses the species PNG media_image13.png 194 374 media_image13.png Greyscale (Example 156, Page 167), PNG media_image14.png 212 446 media_image14.png Greyscale (Example 161, Page 169), and PNG media_image15.png 233 409 media_image15.png Greyscale (Example 162, Page 170), which each have variables R1 and R2 coming together to form a substituted heterocycloalkyl, variable R3 as substituted heteroaryl, and variable R6 as substituted amine. The present invention also provides a pharmaceutical composition that includes at least one compound described herein and at least one pharmaceutically acceptable excipient (Page 21). Claims 1, 2, 16, and 33-34 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Palmer (WO 2008/095912; Publication Date: 14 August 2008). Palmer discloses compounds which inhibit the secretion of gastric acid (Abstract). Palmer discloses compounds of the genus PNG media_image16.png 211 298 media_image16.png Greyscale (Page 41), with variable R1 being alkyl, R2 being alkyl or H, and Ar being substituted phenyl groups (Table 1, Pages 41-66). These compounds have variable R1 and R2 coming together to form a 6-membered heterocycloalkyl, R3 being substituted heteroaryl, variable R5 as H or methyl, and variable R6 as alkyl. A further subject of the invention are medicaments which comprise one or more active compounds according to the invention. As medicaments, the active compounds are employed in combination with suitable pharmaceutical excipients (Page 100). Claims 1, 2, and 33 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Palmer (Tetrahedron Letters, Vol. 50, Issue 27, 8 July 2009, 3920-3922). Palmer discloses compounds such as PNG media_image17.png 126 103 media_image17.png Greyscale , PNG media_image18.png 159 420 media_image18.png Greyscale , and PNG media_image19.png 147 117 media_image19.png Greyscale (Schemes 2 and 3). These compounds have R1 and R2 coming together to form a substituted heterocycloalkyl, variable R3 as amine, substituted amine, or substituted heterocycle, and variables R5 and R6 each as methyl. Double Patenting- REJECTIONS MAINTAINED Claims 1, 2, 4, 16, and 33-34 are provisionally rejected on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting as being unpatentable over claims 1, 3, 5, and 10 of copending Application No. 19/140,283 (Amended Claims of 22 July 2025) (‘283). Claim 1 of ‘283 is directed to a compound of structure 1A or 1B PNG media_image20.png 238 380 media_image20.png Greyscale wherein X and Y are selected from C or N; PNG media_image21.png 503 907 media_image21.png Greyscale PNG media_image22.png 428 927 media_image22.png Greyscale . Claim 3 of ‘283 is directed to the compound of Claim 1 represented by formula IIA PNG media_image23.png 167 306 media_image23.png Greyscale or IIB PNG media_image24.png 164 311 media_image24.png Greyscale PNG media_image25.png 385 1009 media_image25.png Greyscale . Claim 5 of ‘283 claims the compound of claim 3 wherein R1 and R2 connect to form a five-membered, six-membered, seven-membered, or eight-membered ring. Claim 10 is directed to a pharmaceutical composition comprising the compound according to claim 1 and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, adjuvant, or excipient. The claims are not identical but are not patentably distinct because the compounds of Claim 5 read on the species of the examined application. This is a provisional nonstatutory double patenting rejection because the patentably indistinct claims have not in fact been patented. Conclusion Claims 1, 2, 4, 16, 33 and 34 are rejected. Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to PHILLIP MATTHEW RZECZYCKI whose telephone number is (703)756-5326. The examiner can normally be reached Monday Thru Friday 730AM-5PM 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, Andrew Kosar can be reached at 571-272-0913. 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. /P.M.R./Examiner, Art Unit 1625 /JOHN S KENYON/Primary Patent Examiner, Art Unit 1625
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Nov 21, 2022
Application Filed
Jan 27, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §102
May 12, 2026
Response Filed
Jul 01, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §102 (current)

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Study what changed to get past this examiner. Based on 5 most recent grants.

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Prosecution Projections

2-3
Expected OA Rounds
60%
Grant Probability
99%
With Interview (+42.3%)
3y 5m (~0m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Moderate
PTA Risk
Based on 111 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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