Prosecution Insights
Last updated: April 19, 2026
Application No. 18/370,678

SMALL MOLECULES FOR BORON NEUTRON CAPTURE THERAPY

Non-Final OA §112
Filed
Sep 20, 2023
Examiner
CHEN, PO-CHIH
Art Unit
1621
Tech Center
1600 — Biotechnology & Organic Chemistry
Assignee
Aviko Radiopharmaceuticals, LLC
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
75%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
2y 7m
To Grant
88%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 75% — above average
75%
Career Allow Rate
553 granted / 740 resolved
+14.7% vs TC avg
Moderate +14% lift
Without
With
+13.8%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 7m
Avg Prosecution
52 currently pending
Career history
792
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
0.4%
-39.6% vs TC avg
§103
27.5%
-12.5% vs TC avg
§102
20.0%
-20.0% vs TC avg
§112
31.8%
-8.2% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 740 resolved cases

Office Action

§112
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 . DETAIL ACTION This office action is a response to an application filed 9/20/2023 claiming domestic priority to 63/408,561 filed 9/21/2022. As filed, claims 1-10, 13, 15-18, 21, 24, 26, 29, and 33 are pending; and claims 11, 12, 14, 19, 20, 22, 23, 25, 27, 28, 30-32, and 34 are cancelled. Information Disclosure Statement The information disclosure statement (IDS) submitted on 12/1/2023; 12/20/2023; 1/22/2024; 3/15/2024; and 4/14/2025 has been considered by the Examiner. Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112(b) 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 24, 26, and 29 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. Regarding claims 24, 26, and 29, the claims are dependent of claim 1, and recite the phrase, “The method of claim 1”, wherein the word, “the”, requires antecedent basis, and it is unclear where applicant has defined “a” method in claim 1, 24, 26, or 29. Without antecedent basis, the claims are rendered indefinite. Regarding claim 24, the claim is dependent of claim 1, and recites the phrase, “the composition”, wherein the word, “the”, requires antecedent basis, and it is unclear where applicant has defined “a” composition in claim 1 or 24. Without antecedent basis, the claim is rendered indefinite. Claim Objections Claim 9 is objected to because of the following informalities: Regarding claim 9, the claim recites the phrase, “wherein one and only one of R1, R2, and R3 is not -H”. Such expression can be clarified by reciting -- wherein 1, R2, and R3 is not -H --. Appropriate correction is required. Allowable Subject Matter Claims 1-8, 10, 13, 15-18, 21, and 33 are allowed. Conclusion Claims 24, 26, and 29 are rejected. Claims 1-8, 10, 13, 15-18, 21, and 33 are allowed. Claim 9 is objected. Claims 11, 12, 14, 19, 20, 22, 23, 25, 27, 28, 30-32, and 34 are cancelled. The instant claims are drawn to a compound of instant formula (I) or a method of treatment via the compound thereof; and the para position of the -OH substituent relative to the -CH2CH(NH2)CO2H group does not appear to have been disclosed previously in the prior arts. In addition, the compound of instant formula (I) has shown unexpected superior ability and selectivity to be taken up by human cancer cell lines SAS and U87-MG when compared to compound disclosed in prior art reference, such as U.S. Patent No. 12,319,707, hereinafter Torgov. Furthermore, the prior art provide insufficient guidance or motivation that would have led a person having ordinary skill in the art to arrive at the instantly claimed compounds. Telephone Inquiry Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to PO-CHIH CHEN whose telephone number is (571)270-7243. The examiner can normally be reached Monday - Friday 10:00 am to 6:00 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, Clinton 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. /PO-CHIH CHEN/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1621
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Sep 20, 2023
Application Filed
Oct 14, 2025
Non-Final Rejection — §112 (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

1-2
Expected OA Rounds
75%
Grant Probability
88%
With Interview (+13.8%)
2y 7m
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 740 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allow rate.

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