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 Application
Receipt is acknowledged of the request for continued examination filed 2/2/2026, and the amendment and response filed 1/22/2026. Claims 20,22 and 26-43 are pending in the application. Claims 20,22 and 26-37 were amended and new claims 37-43 were added.
Continued Examination Under 37 CFR 1.114
A request for continued examination under 37 CFR 1.114, including the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e), was filed in this application after final rejection. Since this application is eligible for continued examination under 37 CFR 1.114, and the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e) has been timely paid, the finality of the previous Office action has been withdrawn pursuant to 37 CFR 1.114. Applicant's submission filed on 1/22/2026 has been entered.
Response to Arguments
Claim amendments render the previous rejections under 35USC 112(b) moot and 35 USC 103 moot. However, the claims as amended present new grounds for rejection.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
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 20,22,and 26-43 are rejected under 35 USC 103 as being unpatentable over Makkar et al. (Animal Feed Science & Technology, 197,1-33) in view of Haahr et al. (WO2019043191A1).
Regarding claim 20 and dependent claims, Makkar discloses insect meal as a valuable protein source (see abstract, introduction) for use in animal feed. Haahr discloses polypeptides with sequence similar to SEQ ID 1 as being suitable to hydrolyze protein substrates to improve their digestibility. Haahr discloses (page 76) the use of the polypeptides in animal feed . In an embodiment, the invention provides a method for preparing an animal feed composition comprising adding one or more proteases to one or more animal feed ingredients. The ingredient may be protein from any source (page 77).
As Makkar characterizes insect meals as valuable protein sources in animal feeds, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art to prepare an animal feed rendered more digestible by contacting with a polypeptide from Haahr, with a reasonable expectation of improving digestibility of the meal.
Claims 20,22 and 26-43 are therefore prima facie obvious in view of the art.
Correspondence
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to Subbalakshmi Prakash whose telephone number is (571)270-3685. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Friday.
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/SUBBALAKSHMI PRAKASH/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1793
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