Prosecution Insights
Last updated: October 27, 2026
Application No. 18/022,670

COMPOSITION COMPRISING POLYETHYLENE GLYCOL CONJUGATED TO INDOCYANINE GREEN AND METHODS OF USE

Non-Final OA §102§112
Filed
Feb 22, 2023
Priority
Aug 24, 2020 — provisional 63/069,161 +2 more
Examiner
CABRAL, ROBERT S
Art Unit
1614
Tech Center
1600 — Biotechnology & Organic Chemistry
Assignee
Board of Regents of the University of Texas System
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
63%
Grant Probability
Moderate
1-2
OA Rounds
1y 10m
Est. Remaining
95%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 63% of resolved cases
63%
Career Allowance Rate
546 granted / 870 resolved
+2.8% vs TC avg
Strong +32% interview lift
Without
With
+32.3%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
5y 6m
Avg Prosecution
33 currently pending
Career history
911
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
1.9%
-38.1% vs TC avg
§103
44.9%
+4.9% vs TC avg
§102
16.7%
-23.3% vs TC avg
§112
23.6%
-16.4% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 870 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 . Claims 1-34 are pending. Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112 Claim 13 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. Regarding claim 13, the phrase "such as" renders the claim indefinite because it is unclear whether the limitations following the phrase are part of the claimed invention. See MPEP § 2173.05(d). 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)(1) the claimed invention was patented, described in a printed publication, or in public use, on sale, or otherwise available to the public before the effective filing date of the claimed invention. Claim(s) 6 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by WO 2020/047418 to The Regents of the University of California (hereinafter, "California"). Regarding Claim 6, California discloses a method of treating a disease or condition associated with abnormal expression of an influx or efflux transporter in a subject in need thereof (Abstract; Para. [0096] the present invention provides a method of treating a subject suffering from a diseased tissue wherein the diseased tissue is ovarian cancer; comprising administering to the subject a composition comprising polyethylene glycol (PEG) conjugated to indocyanine green (ICG) ("ICG-PEG conjugate") (Para. [0079] method of treating a disease, the method comprising administering a therapeutically effective amount of a nanoparticle of the present invention, to a subject in need thereof; Para. [0065] the present invention provides a nanoparticle comprising a plurality of first conjugates, wherein each first conjugate is independently a compound of formula (1) as described herein, wherein: the plurality of conjugates self-assembles in an aqueous solvent to form the nanoparticle such that a hydrophobic core is formed in the interior of the nanoparticle wherein the PEG of each conjugate self-assembles on the exterior of the nanoparticle; Para. [0055]; [0062] a compound of formula (I): wherein: PEG is a polyethylene glycol (PEG) polymer each R2 indocyanine green; see also Para. [0127]). Claim(s) 33 and 34 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by CN 108743975 to Wuhan Kaideweisi Biotechnology (hereinafter, "Wuhan"). Regarding Claim 33, Wuhan discloses a composition (Para. [0011] the invention provides a novel near-infrared fluorescent imaging agent ICG-OSu- (PEG4) n-TMVP1 targeting tumor VEGFR-3 molecules) comprising indocyanine (ICG) (Para. [0011] the invention provides a novel near-infrared fluorescent imaging agent ICG-OSu- (PEG4) n-TMVP1 targeting tumor VEGFR-3 molecules; Paras. [0034]-[0035], Fig. 1a, ICG-OSu-PEG4-TMVP1), polyethylene glycol (PEG) (Para. [0011] the invention provides a novel near-infrared fluorescent imaging agent ICG-OSu- (PEG4) n-TMVP1 targeting tumor VEGFR-3 molecules; Paras. [0034]-[0035], Fig. 1a, ICG-OSu-PEG4-TMVP1), and a secondary moiety (Para. [0011] the invention provides a novel near-infrared fluorescent imaging agent ICG-OSu- (PEG4) n-TMVP1 targeting tumor VEGFR-3 molecules; Para. [0014] The structural formula of the near-infrared fluorescence imaging agent is ICG-OSu- (PEG) n-G (CGLARGRGC) a core sequence LARGR of a cyclic polypeptide G (CGLARGC) is polypeptide TMVP1 targeting tumor VEGFR-3 molecules, i.e. second moiety is the TMVP1 Paras. [0034]-[0035], Fig. 1a, ICG-OSu-PEG4-TMVP1), wherein ICG and the secondary moiety are each independently conjugated to PEG (Para. [0013] TMVP1 is designed into Cyclic (CGLARGRGC) G with a ring structure to increase the stability, and is covalently linked with ICG-OSu through (PEG) n to construct the novel imaging agent ICG-OSu- (PEG) n-TMVP1 shown in the invention; Paras. [0034]-[0035], Fig. 1a, ICG-OSu-PEG4-TMVP1, i.e. as shown in Fig. 1 the ICG and TMVP1 are independently linked to the PEG). Regarding Claim 34, Wuhan discloses the composition of claim 33, wherein the secondary moiety is an imaging agent, biochemical activatable agent, or a therapeutic agent (Para. [0011] the invention provides a novel near-infrared fluorescent imaging agent ICG-OSu- (PEG4) n-TMVP1 targeting tumor VEGFR-3 molecules; Para. [0014] The structural formula of the near-infrared fluorescence imaging agent is ICG-OSu- (PEG) n-G (CGLARGRGC) a core sequence LARGR of a cyclic polypeptide G (CGLARGC) is polypeptide TMVP1 targeting tumor VEGFR-3 molecules, i.e. targeting agent TMVP1 is a biochemical activatable agent). Allowable Subject Matter The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter: According to the written opinion of the International searching authority, methods of claims 1-5 and 7-32 would appear to be free of the prior art. Conclusion Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to ROBERT S CABRAL whose telephone number is (571)270-3769. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 8 am - 5 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, Ali Soroush can be reached at 571-272-9925. 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. /ROBERT S CABRAL/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1614
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Feb 22, 2023
Application Filed
Jan 13, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §102, §112
Jul 13, 2026
Response Filed

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

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Prosecution Projections

1-2
Expected OA Rounds
63%
Grant Probability
95%
With Interview (+32.3%)
5y 6m (~1y 10m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 870 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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