Prosecution Insights
Last updated: July 17, 2026
Application No. 18/252,228

COMPOUNDS AND USES THEREOF

Final Rejection §112
Filed
May 09, 2023
Priority
Nov 10, 2020 — provisional 63/112,126 +1 more
Examiner
AULAKH, CHARANJIT
Art Unit
1621
Tech Center
1600 — Biotechnology & Organic Chemistry
Assignee
Foghorn Therapeutics Inc.
OA Round
2 (Final)
81%
Grant Probability
Favorable
3-4
OA Rounds
0m
Est. Remaining
66%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 81% — above average
81%
Career Allowance Rate
1427 granted / 1766 resolved
+20.8% vs TC avg
Minimal -15% lift
Without
With
+-15.3%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Fast prosecutor
2y 0m
Avg Prosecution
52 currently pending
Career history
1809
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
2.2%
-37.8% vs TC avg
§103
18.5%
-21.5% vs TC avg
§102
21.7%
-18.3% vs TC avg
§112
27.9%
-12.1% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 1766 resolved cases

Office Action

§112
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 . According to paper filed on May 13, 2026, the applicants have canceled claim 73 and furthermore, have amended claims 1, 32, 118 and 119. Claims 1, 15, 21, 25, 32, 34, 40-42, 58-59, 62, 69, 72, 81 and 118-119 are pending in the application. Response to Arguments Applicant's arguments filed May 13, 2026 have been fully considered but they are not persuasive regarding some indefiniteness rejection of claim 119 and ODP rejection. Regarding indefiniteness rejection of claim 119, the applicants argue that according to definition of hydrogen in the specification, it can represent isotope deuterium also. The examiner agrees with this. However, variable Rx1 can’t represent H according to its definition in claim 1. Therefore, compounds 715, 717, 741 and 807 in claim 119 lack an antecedent basis. In regard to ODP rejection, the applicants argue that the definition of variable Rx1 is amended to delete halogen. This is not true. There are two separate formulae for the bicyclic ring. The applicants have did delete the value of variable Rx1 as halogen in the 2nd formula only. The first formula where 7-membered ring contains O as ring atom, variable Rx1 can still represent halogen. Conclusion The indefiniteness rejection of claim 119 under 35 U.S.C. 112, 2nd paragraph is maintained. The ODP rejection of claims 1, 15, 21, 25, 32, 34, 40-42, 58-59, 62, 69, 72, 81 and 118-119over claims of PAT 12,139,487 is maintained. NEW GROUNDS OF REJECTION Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112 7. 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 81 and 119 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 81 depends upon claim 73 which is canceled. Claim 119 recites the limitation "alkoxy for the value of variable Rx1 (see compound 344)" in claim 1. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim. 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 CHARANJIT AULAKH whose telephone number is (571)272-0678. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Friday 7:00-3:30. 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, Clinton A Brooks can be reached at 571-270-7682. 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. /CHARANJIT AULAKH/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1621
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

May 09, 2023
Application Filed
Feb 13, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §112
May 13, 2026
Response Filed
May 22, 2026
Final Rejection mailed — §112 (current)

Precedent Cases

Applications granted by this same examiner with similar technology

Patent 12679846
NOVEL XANTHONE COMPOUND HAVING EXCELLENT ANTICANCER EFFECT
2y 7m to grant Granted Jul 14, 2026
Patent 12673924
VALIOLAMINE DERIVATIVES AS GLUCOSIDASE INHIBITORS
2y 10m to grant Granted Jul 07, 2026
Patent 12667564
PROCESSES FOR PREPARING MORPHINAN-6-ONE PRODUCTS WITH LOW LEVELS OF ALPHA, BETA-UNSATURATED KETONE COMPOUNDS
4y 7m to grant Granted Jun 30, 2026
Patent 12668595
AZA-ERGOLINE DERIVATIVE AND PREPARATION METHOD THEREFOR AND APPLICATION THEREOF
2y 11m to grant Granted Jun 30, 2026
Patent 12662479
COMPOUNDS AND USES THEREOF
3y 11m to grant Granted Jun 23, 2026
Study what changed to get past this examiner. Based on 5 most recent grants.

Strategy Recommendation AI-generated — please review before filing

Get a prosecution strategy drawn from examiner precedents, rejection analysis, and claim mapping.
Typically takes 5-10 seconds — AI-generated, attorney review required before filing

Prosecution Projections

3-4
Expected OA Rounds
81%
Grant Probability
66%
With Interview (-15.3%)
2y 0m (~0m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Moderate
PTA Risk
Based on 1766 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

Sign in with your work email

Enter your email to receive a magic link. No password needed.

Personal email addresses (Gmail, Yahoo, etc.) are not accepted.

Free tier: 3 strategy analyses per month