Prosecution Insights
Last updated: April 19, 2026
Application No. 18/030,105

SMALL MOLECULE NICOTINAMIDE ADENINE DINUCLEOTIDE MODULATORS

Non-Final OA §102
Filed
Apr 04, 2023
Examiner
PATEL, SAGAR S
Art Unit
1626
Tech Center
1600 — Biotechnology & Organic Chemistry
Assignee
The Cleveland Clinic Foundation
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
76%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
2y 8m
To Grant
99%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 76% — above average
76%
Career Allow Rate
345 granted / 455 resolved
+15.8% vs TC avg
Strong +34% interview lift
Without
With
+33.8%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 8m
Avg Prosecution
30 currently pending
Career history
485
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
1.0%
-39.0% vs TC avg
§103
32.8%
-7.2% vs TC avg
§102
20.7%
-19.3% vs TC avg
§112
23.6%
-16.4% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 455 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 . Status of the Claims Claims 1 – 18 are pending. Claims 1 and 5 are rejected. Claims 2 – 4 and 6 – 18 are withdrawn Election/Restrictions Applicant’s election without traverse of Group I, claims 1 – 11, in the reply filed on November 5, 2025 is acknowledged. Applicant further specifically elect the compound CCF1172: PNG media_image1.png 163 243 media_image1.png Greyscale . The compound CCF1172 reads on the structure of formula (I) PNG media_image2.png 230 366 media_image2.png Greyscale , wherein: PNG media_image3.png 65 794 media_image3.png Greyscale Examination: As noted above, Applicant state that the compound CCF1172 reads on the structure of formula (I), wherein the moiety A-R2 is halogen. Emphasis added. However, the claims recite the limitation: PNG media_image4.png 170 850 media_image4.png Greyscale According to the limitation, A is specifically C1-C5 alkylene and one or more of the methylene groups can be optionally independently replaced with the above groups. The claims do not specifically recite any limitations, wherein A is absent or a halogen group (in which case, R2 would be absent), in order to encompass the scope of the elected compound CCF1172. The specification also does not teach or provide sufficient support for said limitations of the compound of formula (I). Therefore, none of the claims read on Applicant’s elected species. Examination of the Markush-type claim has been extended to the scope of formula (I), that constitutes a proper Markush group wherein A is C1 alkylene and R2 is absent, such that the compounds share a naphthalenyl-NH-C(O)-phenyl core, pursuant to Federal Register, Vol. 76, No. 27, dated February 9, 2011, page 7166 (middle column): “Under principles of compact prosecution, the examiner should also require the applicant to elect a species or group of indistinct species for search and examination (i.e., an election of species). If the examiner does not find the species or group of indistinct species in the prior art, then the examiner should extend the search to those additional species that fall within the scope of a permissible Markush claim. In other words, the examiner should extend the search to the species that share a single structural similarity and a common use. The improper Markush claim should be examined for patentability over the prior art with respect to the elected species or group of indistinct species…within the scope of a proper Markush claim.” Subject matter not embraced by the elected embodiment or the scope searched is therefore withdrawn from further consideration. Claims 2 – 4 and 6 – 18 are withdrawn from further consideration pursuant to 37 CFR 1.142(b) as being drawn to a nonelected invention/ species, there being no allowable generic or linking claim. Priority PNG media_image5.png 64 388 media_image5.png Greyscale Information Disclosure Statement The information disclosure statement (IDS) submitted on October 31, 2023 is in compliance with the provisions of 37 CFR 1.97. Accordingly, the information disclosure statement is being considered by the examiner. Claim Objections Claims 1 and 5 are objected to because of the following informalities: Claim 1, page 39, line 4: The limitation “A is selected from C1-C5 alkylene wherein one or more…” is grammatically incorrect because it recites alternative language without additional alternate groups and missing proper punctuation (comma (,)). In order to overcome the objection, Applicant may amend the limitation as follows: “A is1-C5 alkylene, wherein one or more…”. Claim 1, page 39, line 7: The limitation “B is selected from H, C1-C5 alkylene wherein one or more…” is grammatically incorrect because it does not recite proper language and conjunction (comma (,)) for the groups of alternatives. In order to overcome the objection, Applicant may amend the limitation as follows: “B is selected from H, and C1-C5 alkylene, wherein one or more…”. Claim 5, line 1 of the claim: The preamble limitation “The compound of claim 1 wherein…” is grammatically improper because it does not recite proper punctuation (comma (,)). In order to overcome the objection, Applicant may amend the limitation as follows: “The compound of claim 1, wherein…”. Appropriate correction is required. 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 and 5 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by CAS Registry RN 1036456-49-1 (Entered STN date: July 27, 2008). CAS Registry RN 1036456-49-1 teach the compound as presented below: PNG media_image6.png 238 357 media_image6.png Greyscale . See, page 1. The prior art anticipates the instant claims as presented below: Claims 1 and 5, directed to a compound having the structure of formula (I): PNG media_image2.png 230 366 media_image2.png Greyscale , wherein: Z is NH-C(O), R1, R4 and B are each H, R3 is absent, A is C1 alkyl, and R2 is absent. Conclusion Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to Sagar Patel whose telephone number is (571)272-1317. The examiner can normally be reached Monday - Friday: 9am to 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, Amy L. Clark can be reached at (571) 272-1310. 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. /Sagar Patel/Examiner, Art Unit 1626 /KAMAL A SAEED/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1626
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Apr 04, 2023
Application Filed
Dec 26, 2025
Non-Final Rejection — §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

1-2
Expected OA Rounds
76%
Grant Probability
99%
With Interview (+33.8%)
2y 8m
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 455 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allow rate.

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