Prosecution Insights
Last updated: April 19, 2026
Application No. 18/038,936

ADHESIVE PEPTIDES

Final Rejection §112
Filed
May 25, 2023
Examiner
COFFA, SERGIO
Art Unit
1658
Tech Center
1600 — Biotechnology & Organic Chemistry
Assignee
Zentraxa Limited
OA Round
2 (Final)
61%
Grant Probability
Moderate
3-4
OA Rounds
2y 11m
To Grant
94%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 61% of resolved cases
61%
Career Allow Rate
436 granted / 719 resolved
+0.6% vs TC avg
Strong +34% interview lift
Without
With
+33.6%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 11m
Avg Prosecution
61 currently pending
Career history
780
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
3.5%
-36.5% vs TC avg
§103
32.1%
-7.9% vs TC avg
§102
20.5%
-19.5% vs TC avg
§112
27.0%
-13.0% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 719 resolved cases

Office Action

§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 Claim Status Claims 1-2, 7-18 and 26-27 are pending. Claim 5 has been canceled. Claims 1, 16-17 and 26 have been amended. Claims 1-2, 7-18 and 26-27 are being examined in this application. Claim Objections Claim 16 is objected to because of the following informalities: Claim 16 should be rewritten as follows: “…recognition sequence, whereby said peptide adhesive can be….”. Appropriate correction is required. Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112 The rejection of claims 12 and 14-16 under 35 USC 112(a) is withdrawn in view of the amendments to the claims. The rejection of claims 1-2, 5, 7-18 and 26-27 under 35 USC 112(b) is withdrawn in view of the amendments to the claims. The rejection of claims 5 and 26 under 35 USC 112(d) is withdrawn in view of the amendments to the claims. 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. This is a new rejection. Claim 17 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. Claim 17 recites the limitation "said…..cleavable sequence" in lines 1-2. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim. Allowable Subject Matter Claims 1-2, 7-15, 18 and 26-27 are allowed. Conclusion Applicant's amendment necessitated the new ground(s) of rejection presented in this Office action. Accordingly, THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. See MPEP § 706.07(a). 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 SERGIO COFFA whose telephone number is (571)270-3022. The examiner can normally be reached M-F: 6AM-4PM. 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, MELISSA FISHER can be reached at 571-270-7430. 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. /SERGIO COFFA Ph.D./ Primary Examiner Art Unit 1658 /SERGIO COFFA/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1658
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

May 25, 2023
Application Filed
Sep 07, 2025
Non-Final Rejection — §112
Dec 08, 2025
Examiner Interview Summary
Dec 08, 2025
Applicant Interview (Telephonic)
Dec 10, 2025
Response Filed
Jan 02, 2026
Final Rejection — §112 (current)

Precedent Cases

Applications granted by this same examiner with similar technology

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Patent 12569574
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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
61%
Grant Probability
94%
With Interview (+33.6%)
2y 11m
Median Time to Grant
Moderate
PTA Risk
Based on 719 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allow rate.

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