Prosecution Insights
Last updated: May 29, 2026
Application No. 18/433,069

Methods of Treating Testosterone Deficiency

Non-Final OA §112
Filed
Feb 05, 2024
Priority
Dec 20, 2018 — provisional 62/782,865 +3 more
Examiner
HUI, SAN MING R
Art Unit
1627
Tech Center
1600 — Biotechnology & Organic Chemistry
Assignee
Tolmar, Inc.
OA Round
3 (Non-Final)
59%
Grant Probability
Moderate
3-4
OA Rounds
8m
Est. Remaining
79%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 59% of resolved cases
59%
Career Allowance Rate
763 granted / 1293 resolved
-1.0% vs TC avg
Strong +20% interview lift
Without
With
+20.0%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 11m
Avg Prosecution
37 currently pending
Career history
1343
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
0.9%
-39.1% vs TC avg
§103
58.9%
+18.9% vs TC avg
§102
5.8%
-34.2% vs TC avg
§112
9.2%
-30.8% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 1293 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 . Continued Examination Under 37 CFR 1.114 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 2/18/2026 has been entered. Claims 31-36, 40, 42, 45, 46, 48-60 are pending. The outstanding rejection under 35 USC 103a is withdrawn in view of the applicant’s arguments along with the amendments to the claims filed 2/18/2026. As the claims are directed to the use of a testosterone undecanoate formulation with specific excipients and amount range, in a specific dosage, to give rise to the herein claimed results of 75% of patients having Cavg in the range of about 300 ng/dL to about 1100 ng/dL, and less than about 5% having Cmax in the range of about 1800 ng/dL to about 2500 ng/dL, the cited prior art does not read on or render the claims obvious. Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112 The following is a quotation of the first paragraph of 35 U.S.C. 112(a): (a) IN GENERAL.—The specification shall contain a written description of the invention, and of the manner and process of making and using it, in such full, clear, concise, and exact terms as to enable any person skilled in the art to which it pertains, or with which it is most nearly connected, to make and use the same, and shall set forth the best mode contemplated by the inventor or joint inventor of carrying out the invention. The following is a quotation of the first paragraph of pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112: The specification shall contain a written description of the invention, and of the manner and process of making and using it, in such full, clear, concise, and exact terms as to enable any person skilled in the art to which it pertains, or with which it is most nearly connected, to make and use the same, and shall set forth the best mode contemplated by the inventor of carrying out his invention. Claims 31-36, 40, 42, 45, 46, 48-60 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(a) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), first paragraph, as failing to comply with the written description requirement. The claim(s) contains subject matter which was not described in the specification in such a way as to reasonably convey to one skilled in the relevant art that the inventor or a joint inventor, or for applications subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, the inventor(s), at the time the application was filed, had possession of the claimed invention. The limitation “at least about 75% of the population has a Cav, in the range of about 300 ng/dL to about 1100 ng/dL, and less than about 5% of the population has a Cmax in the range of about 1800 ng/dL to about 2500 ng/dL” recited in claims 31, 52, and 57 is not supported by the originally filed specification or claims. The limitation “wherein greater than or equal to about 85% of the population has a Cmax below about 1500 ng/dL.” Recited in claim 49, 56, and 60 is not supported by the originally filed specification or claims. Appropriate correction is required. Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to SAN MING R HUI whose telephone number is (571)272-0626. The examiner can normally be reached Mon - Fri 9:30-5:30. 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, Kortney Klinkel can be reached at 571-270-5239. 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. /SAN MING R HUI/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1627
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Show 16 earlier events
Dec 11, 2025
Response after Non-Final Action
Feb 12, 2026
Request for Continued Examination
Feb 13, 2026
Response after Non-Final Action
Mar 24, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §112
Mar 27, 2026
Interview Requested
Apr 08, 2026
Applicant Interview (Telephonic)
Apr 08, 2026
Examiner Interview Summary
Apr 13, 2026
Response Filed

Precedent Cases

Applications granted by this same examiner with similar technology

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Patent 12636270
LEVOTHYROXINE LIQUID FORMULATIONS
2y 5m to grant Granted May 26, 2026
Patent 12629351
HDAC INHIBITORS FOR IDIOPATHIC PULMONARY FIBROSIS AND OTHER LUNG INFLAMMATORY DISORDERS
3y 2m to grant Granted May 19, 2026
Patent 12630523
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2y 7m to grant Granted May 19, 2026
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
59%
Grant Probability
79%
With Interview (+20.0%)
2y 11m (~8m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
High
PTA Risk
Based on 1293 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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