Prosecution Insights
Last updated: July 17, 2026
Application No. 18/367,444

AN AQUEOUS PHARMACEUTICAL FORMULATION INCLUDING A VEGF RECEPTOR FUSION PROTEIN

Non-Final OA §112
Filed
Sep 12, 2023
Priority
May 10, 2018 — provisional 62/669,506 +5 more
Examiner
LOCKARD, JON MCCLELLAND
Art Unit
1647
Tech Center
1600 — Biotechnology & Organic Chemistry
Assignee
Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc.
OA Round
2 (Non-Final)
75%
Grant Probability
Favorable
2-3
OA Rounds
0m
Est. Remaining
99%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 75% — above average
75%
Career Allowance Rate
635 granted / 850 resolved
+14.7% vs TC avg
Strong +27% interview lift
Without
With
+27.0%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 5m
Avg Prosecution
33 currently pending
Career history
870
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
3.0%
-37.0% vs TC avg
§103
9.0%
-31.0% vs TC avg
§102
10.2%
-29.8% vs TC avg
§112
45.6%
+5.6% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 850 resolved cases

Office Action

§112
Notice of Pre-AIA or AIA Status 1. The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA . Continued Examination Under 37 CFR 1.114 2. 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 allowance or after an Office action under Ex Parte Quayle, 25 USPQ 74, 453 O.G. 213 (Comm'r Pat. 1935). 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, prosecution in this application has been reopened pursuant to 37 CFR 1.114. Applicant's submission filed on 12 May 2026 has been entered. Information Disclosure Statement 3. The information disclosure statement (IDS) submitted on 12 May 2026 has been considered by the examiner. Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112 4. 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. 5. Claims 39-82 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. 6. Claims 39-41, 51-53 and 62-65 are rejected as being indefinite for reciting “with a pH of 5.5-6.1” (claims 39-41 and 62), and “with a pH of 5.8” (claims 51-53 and 63-65). Since it is not clear if this limitation refers to the pH of the L-arginine or the pH of the formulation, the metes and bounds of the claims cannot be determined. 7. Claims 58-61 are rejected as being indefinite for reciting “and which is sterile”. Since it is not clear if the “sterile” limitation refers only to the syringe or the pre-filled syringe comprising the antibody formulation, the metes and bounds of the claims cannot be determined. 8. Claims 42-50, 54-57 and 66-82 are rejected for depending from an indefinite claim. Summary 9. No claim is allowed. Advisory Information Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to JON M LOCKARD whose telephone number is (571) 272-2717. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 9-6 EST. 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, Joanne Hama can be reached on (571) 272-2911. 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. /JON M LOCKARD/Examiner, Art Unit 1647 May 28, 2026
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Show 12 earlier events
Jul 03, 2025
Response after Non-Final Action
Oct 16, 2025
Request for Continued Examination
Oct 21, 2025
Response after Non-Final Action
Feb 03, 2026
Request for Continued Examination
Feb 04, 2026
Response after Non-Final Action
May 12, 2026
Request for Continued Examination
May 19, 2026
Response after Non-Final Action
Jun 02, 2026
Non-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

2-3
Expected OA Rounds
75%
Grant Probability
99%
With Interview (+27.0%)
2y 5m (~0m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Moderate
PTA Risk
Based on 850 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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