Prosecution Insights
Last updated: August 06, 2026
Application No. 18/245,700

MODULATORS OF MAS-RELATED G-PROTEIN RECEPTOR X4 AND RELATED PRODUCTS AND METHODS

Final Rejection §102
Filed
Mar 16, 2023
Priority
Sep 17, 2020 — provisional 63/079,870 +1 more
Examiner
JARRELL, NOBLE E
Art Unit
1699
Tech Center
1600 — Biotechnology & Organic Chemistry
Assignee
Escient Pharmaceuticals Inc.
OA Round
2 (Final)
81%
Grant Probability
Favorable
3-4
OA Rounds
0m
Est. Remaining
90%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 81% — above average
81%
Career Allowance Rate
837 granted / 1034 resolved
+20.9% vs TC avg
Moderate +10% lift
Without
With
+9.6%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 11m
Avg Prosecution
66 currently pending
Career history
1091
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
2.5%
-37.5% vs TC avg
§103
17.1%
-22.9% vs TC avg
§102
20.4%
-19.6% vs TC avg
§112
44.3%
+4.3% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 1034 resolved cases

Office Action

§102
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 . Response to Amendment The 2026 May 8 claim set contains newly amended claims 36 and 38-52 and newly added claims 53 and 54. The claim objections of the non-final action are overcome because the images are now legible. The 35 U.S.C. 112 rejection is overcome because claims 26 and 37 have been cancelled. ALBRECHT (WO 2015023915, published 2015 February 19) is no longer prior art due to variable Z being defined as CH. The remaining 35 U.S.C. 102 rejections of the non-final rejection are overcome because variable W is no longer CO2H. A search of structure (I) has been extended to the compounds of the prior art shown below, in which the following examined variable definitions apply: Z is N; E-Q is pyridine substituted with two fluoro moieties or phenyl substituted with chloro or two fluoro moieties, CH2-phenyl-4-CF3, or SO2-phenyl; W is NH-C(O)-phenyl substituted with CF3, Br, or two fluoro moieties, NH-C(O)-[phenyl or heteroaryl], or SO2-NH-[2,1,3‐benzoxadiazole or 4‐chloro‐2,5‐difluorophenyl; and (R1, R2, R3, R4) represent (H, H, H, H), (H, F, H, H), (F, H, H, H), (H, H, Cl, H) or (H, H, OMe, H). Consequently, claims 39, 41-43, 46-48, 51, 53, and 54 are withdrawn. Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102 In the event the determination of the status of the application as subject to AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103 (or as subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103) is incorrect, any correction of the statutory basis (i.e., changing from AIA to pre-AIA ) for the rejection will not be considered a new ground of rejection if the prior art relied upon, and the rationale supporting the rejection, would be the same under either status. 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) 36, 38, 40, 44, 45, 47, 49, and 50 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by DÉCOR (WO 2015144562, published 2015 October 1). Décor teaches I-5-1 through I-5-11 (page 112). In these compounds the following definitions apply: Z is N; E-Q is pyridine substituted with two fluoro moieties or phenyl substituted with chloro or two fluoro moieties; W is NH-C(O)-phenyl substituted with CF3, Br, or two fluoro moieties; and (R1, R2, R3, R4) are selected from (H, H, H, H), (H, F, H, H), or (F, H, H, H). PNG media_image1.png 208 240 media_image1.png Greyscale Claim(s) 36, 38, 40, 44, 45, 47, 49, and 52 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by HUANG (WO 2015127125, published 2015 August 27). Huang describes compounds 1-102, 104, 105, 107-110, 112-121, and 123-130 (pages 3-31). In these compounds the following definitions apply: Z is N; E-Q is CH2-phenyl-4-CF3; W is NH-C(O)-[phenyl or heteroaryl]; and R1, R2, R3, R4 are each H. Pharmaceutical compositions are described (pages 85-91, paragraphs [0116] to [0139]). Compound 1 is shown as a representative example. PNG media_image2.png 226 700 media_image2.png Greyscale Claim(s) 36, 38, 40, 44, 45, 47, 49, and 50 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a(1) as being anticipated by MUELLER (WO 2018/122232, filed 2018 July 5). Mueller describes two compounds, I-201a and I-318a (page 374, lines 12-15; page 417, lines 10-12). In these compounds the following definitions apply: Z is N; E-Q is SO2-phenyl; W is SO2-NH-[2,1,3‐benzoxadiazole or 4‐chloro‐2,5‐difluorophenyl; and (R1, R2, R3, R4) are each (H, H, Cl, H) or (H, H, OMe, H). PNG media_image3.png 212 116 media_image3.png Greyscale PNG media_image4.png 130 150 media_image4.png Greyscale Conclusion Claims 36, 38, 40, 44, 45, 47, 49, 50, and 52 are not allowed. The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter: Albrecht ( WO 2015023915, published 2015 February 19) does not describe a compound in which examined variable W includes an 8‐methyl‐[1,2,4]triazolo[4,3‐a]pyridine group. 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 NOBLE E JARRELL whose telephone number is (571)272-9077. The examiner can normally be reached 9:00 AM to 5:00 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, Fereydoun Sajjadi can be reached at 571-272-3311. 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. /NOBLE E JARRELL/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1699
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Mar 16, 2023
Application Filed
Dec 16, 2025
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §102
May 08, 2026
Response Filed
Jul 06, 2026
Final Rejection mailed — §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

3-4
Expected OA Rounds
81%
Grant Probability
90%
With Interview (+9.6%)
2y 11m (~0m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Moderate
PTA Risk
Based on 1034 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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