Prosecution Insights
Last updated: May 29, 2026
Application No. 18/514,387

COMPOSITION FOR IMPROVING COGNITIVE FUNCTION, AGENT FOR IMPROVING COGNITIVE FUNCTION, AND FOOD FOR IMPROVING COGNITIVE FUNCTION

Non-Final OA §102§112
Filed
Nov 20, 2023
Priority
May 21, 2021 — JP 2021-086454 +1 more
Examiner
HAVLIN, ROBERT H
Art Unit
1626
Tech Center
1600 — Biotechnology & Organic Chemistry
Assignee
Ajinomoto Co., Inc.
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
52%
Grant Probability
Moderate
1-2
OA Rounds
3m
Est. Remaining
80%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 52% of resolved cases
52%
Career Allowance Rate
534 granted / 1022 resolved
-7.7% vs TC avg
Strong +27% interview lift
Without
With
+27.2%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 9m
Avg Prosecution
95 currently pending
Career history
1129
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
0.7%
-39.3% vs TC avg
§103
36.8%
-3.2% vs TC avg
§102
14.2%
-25.8% vs TC avg
§112
32.7%
-7.3% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 1022 resolved cases

Office Action

§102 §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 . Priority This application is a CON of PCT/JP2022/020975 (05/20/2022) and claims foreign priority to JAPAN 2021-086454 (05/21/2021). Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112 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 3, 5, 7, 12, 16, 17 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. Claims 3, 5, 7, 12, 16, 17 have what appears to be typographical errors or inconsistent language that renders the claim unclear, for example: claims 3,5,7,12: “serin[e]”; claim 10: “nee[d]”; claim 16,17: “slat thereof”. One of skill in the art would be uncertain whether the claim language is referring to something other than an assumed typo. Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102 The following is a quotation of the appropriate paragraphs of 35 U.S.C. 102 that form the basis for the rejections under this section made in this Office action: A person shall be entitled to a patent unless – (a)(1) the claimed invention was patented, described in a printed publication, or in public use, on sale, or otherwise available to the public before the effective filing date of the claimed invention. (a)(2) the claimed invention was described in a patent issued under section 151, or in an application for patent published or deemed published under section 122(b), in which the patent or application, as the case may be, names another inventor and was effectively filed before the effective filing date of the claimed invention. Claims 1-19 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Iwamoto et al. (JP04-091034, (1992), citations to English translation). Iwamoto teaches the nerve protective agent (FPF-1070, aka Cerebrolysin) comprising 1.50 mg of glycine, 0.30 mg of serine and 4.30 mg of glutamic acid, and indicates that the agent is used as an agent for preventing and treating dementia (p. 199-200). Iwamoto’s composition corresponds to a glycine/serine ratio of 1.5/0.3 = 5. Regarding claims 6-7, Iwamoto teaches oral administration (p. 199). Thus Iwamoto anticipates the composition claims 1-9. Regarding claim 10 to a method for improving cognitive function by administering the composition, Iwamoto teaches that the composition is CNS protective and prevents dementia (i.e., claims 1 and 5). Thus, as with claims 1-9, claims 10-19 are anticipated. Conclusion No claims allowed. Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to ROBERT H HAVLIN whose telephone number is (571)272-9066. The examiner can normally be reached 9am - 6pm. 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) 270-5293. 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. /ROBERT H HAVLIN/Primary Patent Examiner, Art Unit 1626
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Nov 20, 2023
Application Filed
Apr 27, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §102, §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
52%
Grant Probability
80%
With Interview (+27.2%)
2y 9m (~3m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 1022 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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