Prosecution Insights
Last updated: October 04, 2026
Application No. 18/277,967

TARGET PROTEIN PRODUCTION METHOD

Final Rejection §112
Filed
Aug 18, 2023
Priority
Feb 19, 2021 — JP 2021-025664 +1 more
Examiner
FRONDA, CHRISTIAN L
Art Unit
1652
Tech Center
1600 — Biotechnology & Organic Chemistry
Assignee
Nagase Diagnostics Co. Ltd.
OA Round
2 (Final)
82%
Grant Probability
Favorable
3-4
OA Rounds
0m
Est. Remaining
97%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 82% — above average
82%
Career Allowance Rate
1122 granted / 1361 resolved
+22.4% vs TC avg
Moderate +14% lift
Without
With
+14.2%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 5m
Avg Prosecution
46 currently pending
Career history
1398
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
5.2%
-34.8% vs TC avg
§103
25.7%
-14.3% vs TC avg
§102
7.7%
-32.3% vs TC avg
§112
38.3%
-1.7% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 1361 resolved cases

Office Action

§112
DETAILED ACTION The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA . Claims 1, 16, 17, 21-27, 29, 30, 38 are pending in the instant application. Claims 22-27, 29, 30 have been withdrawn from further consideration pursuant to 37 CFR 1.142(b), as being drawn to a nonelected invention. Claims 1, 16, 17, 21, 38, drawn to a method for producing a protein encoded by a target gene, comprising the step of expressing the target gene in a bacterium of the genus Burkholderia, wherein the bacterium lacks BSFP_068740, are under consideration in this Office Action. In view of the claim amendment and arguments filed 06/12/2026, all previous claim objections and/or claim rejections have been withdrawn in favor of the claim rejection(s) stated below. Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ) 2nd Paragraph 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 1, 16, 17, 21, 38 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 pre-AIA the applicant regards as the invention. Claim 1 recites the phrase “amino acid bases,” which renders the claim vague and indefinite since the meaning of the phrase is not known and not defined in the claim where the claim recites nucleotide sequences SEQ ID NOs. Dependent claims 16, 17, 21, 38 are also rejected because they do not correct the defect. Conclusion No claims are allowed. 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 extension fee 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 date of this final action. Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to Christian L Fronda whose telephone number is (571)272 0929. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Thursday and alternate Fridays between 9:00AM-5:00PM. 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, Robert Mondesi can be reached on (408)918-7584. 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. /CHRISTIAN L FRONDA/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1652
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Aug 18, 2023
Application Filed
Mar 12, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §112
Jun 12, 2026
Response Filed
Aug 28, 2026
Final Rejection mailed — §112 (current)

Precedent Cases

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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
82%
Grant Probability
97%
With Interview (+14.2%)
2y 5m (~0m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Moderate
PTA Risk
Based on 1361 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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