Prosecution Insights
Last updated: May 29, 2026
Application No. 18/024,623

RHO KINASE INHIBITION FOR TREATMENT OF PROLIFERATIVE VITREORETINOPATHY AND CONDITIONS ASSOCIATED WITH EPITHELIAL TO MESENCHYMAL TRANSITION

Non-Final OA §102§112
Filed
Mar 03, 2023
Priority
Sep 06, 2020 — provisional 63/075,157 +4 more
Examiner
WARD, PAUL V
Art Unit
1622
Tech Center
1600 — Biotechnology & Organic Chemistry
Assignee
The Schepens Eye Research Institute, Inc.
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
83%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
0m
Est. Remaining
72%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 83% — above average
83%
Career Allowance Rate
1392 granted / 1673 resolved
+23.2% vs TC avg
Minimal -11% lift
Without
With
+-11.0%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 3m
Avg Prosecution
30 currently pending
Career history
1711
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
0.7%
-39.3% vs TC avg
§103
29.9%
-10.1% vs TC avg
§102
8.2%
-31.8% vs TC avg
§112
42.7%
+2.7% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 1673 resolved cases

Office Action

§102 §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 . DETAILED ACTION STATUS OF THE CLAIMS: Claims 1-13 are pending in this application. Election/Restrictions Applicant's election of species in the reply filed on September 4, 2025 is acknowledged. All claims were examined. Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112, 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 1-13 (including all claims dependent thereon) 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. Claim 1 recites “ROCK1/2 inhibitor”. Examples of ROCK 1/2 inhibitors include Y-27632, Fasudil, Netarsudil, Ripasuil, RKI-1447 and AR-13325 to name a few. Are all ROCK1/2 inhibitors intended? 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. Claims 1-28 (including claims dependent thereon or relate back to other claims) are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Payman et al. (WO2019/221959). Applicant claims the following: PNG media_image1.png 104 599 media_image1.png Greyscale This reference discloses methods for treating or reducing PVR or ERM with ROCK 1/2 inhibitors on pages 3-45, 57-70 and 88-92 in paragraphs [0023], [0029], [0080], [0153], [0194], [0237]-[0238], [0259], [0328], [0377], [0384], [0458], [0465] and [0477]. (See Abstract and entire document). These methods read on the instant claim. Since this reference teaches the exact methods, Applicant’s claims are anticipated, and thus, rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102. Conclusion Claims 1-28 are pending. Claims 1-28 are rejected. No claims are allowed. Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to PAUL V WARD whose telephone number is (571)272-2909. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 9am to 5pm. 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, James Alstrum-Acevedo can be reached at 571-272-5548. 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. /PAUL V WARD/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1622
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Mar 03, 2023
Application Filed
Nov 26, 2025
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §102, §112
May 28, 2026
Response after Non-Final Action

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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
83%
Grant Probability
72%
With Interview (-11.0%)
2y 3m (~0m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 1673 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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