Prosecution Insights
Last updated: April 19, 2026
Application No. 18/555,021

METHOD FOR PREPARING INTERMEDIATE FOR SYNTHESIS OF SPHINGOSINE-1-PHOSPHATE RECEPTOR AGONIST

Non-Final OA §102§DP
Filed
Oct 12, 2023
Examiner
ROBINSON, MIKHAIL O'DONNEL
Art Unit
1627
Tech Center
1600 — Biotechnology & Organic Chemistry
Assignee
LG Chem, Ltd.
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
57%
Grant Probability
Moderate
1-2
OA Rounds
3y 6m
To Grant
99%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 57% of resolved cases
57%
Career Allow Rate
59 granted / 103 resolved
-2.7% vs TC avg
Strong +48% interview lift
Without
With
+47.7%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
3y 6m
Avg Prosecution
50 currently pending
Career history
153
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
3.8%
-36.2% vs TC avg
§103
41.6%
+1.6% vs TC avg
§102
20.9%
-19.1% vs TC avg
§112
20.3%
-19.7% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 103 resolved cases

Office Action

§102 §DP
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 . 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)(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 1-12 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) as being anticipated by Shin et al. (WO 2022220613 A1) published 10/20/2022 with a priority date of 04/14/2021. Applicant has filed a foreign priority application dated 04/14/2021, but have not provided an English translation, therefore the above prior art priority date is applicable. The applied reference has a common inventor with the instant application. Based upon the earlier effectively filed date of the reference, it constitutes prior art under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2). This rejection under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) might be overcome by: (1) a showing under 37 CFR 1.130(a) that the subject matter disclosed in the reference was obtained directly or indirectly from the inventor or a joint inventor of this application and is thus not prior art in accordance with 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(2)(A); (2) a showing under 37 CFR 1.130(b) of a prior public disclosure under 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(2)(B) if the same invention is not being claimed; or (3) a statement pursuant to 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(2)(C) establishing that, not later than the effective filing date of the claimed invention, the subject matter disclosed in the reference and the claimed invention were either owned by the same person or subject to an obligation of assignment to the same person or subject to a joint research agreement. Regarding claims 1-12, shin teaches a method for the preparation of formula 7 comprising preparation of formula 4 PNG media_image1.png 299 540 media_image1.png Greyscale by a coupling compound of formula 2 PNG media_image2.png 213 295 media_image2.png Greyscale with a compound of formula 3 PNG media_image3.png 264 322 media_image3.png Greyscale in the presence of a dimethylacetamide (DMA) solvent, wherein R1 is hydrogen or substituted or unsubstituted alkyl; R2 is hydrogen, substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, halogen, CN, CF 3 or COCF 3 ; R3 and R4 are each hydrogen, substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, or halogen; R5 is hydrogen, substituted or unsubstituted alkyl or halogen, X is C or N; L is a leaving group (relevant to claims 1-2) (Para. 68-73 and 80-88). Formula 4 is then crystallized by an alcohol-based solvent and water (relevant to claims 3-4) (para. 114) Shin teaches Formula 3 is prepared by: preparing a compound of Formula 9 PNG media_image4.png 269 304 media_image4.png Greyscale by blocking the alcohol group of the compound of Formula 8 PNG media_image5.png 265 276 media_image5.png Greyscale ; introducing an aldehyde into the compound of Formula 9 to prepare a compound of Formula 10 PNG media_image6.png 282 374 media_image6.png Greyscale and preparing a compound of Formula 3 by recovering an alcohol group from the compound of Formula 10; wherein R3-R5 is defined above and Y is an alcohol-protecting group. (relevant to claims 5-6) (para. 187-197). The compound of Formula 3 prepared as described above may be crystallized under acidic conditions by adding hydrochloric acid and H2O (relevant to claims 7-8 and 10-11) (para. 215). Shin additionally the preparation of Formula 8 may be prepared by a dealkylation reaction of the compound of Formula 11 PNG media_image7.png 306 383 media_image7.png Greyscale wherein R3 and R4 are hydrogen and R7 is a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl (relevant to claims 9 and 12) (para. 222-224). Double Patenting The nonstatutory double patenting rejection is based on a judicially created doctrine grounded in public policy (a policy reflected in the statute) so as to prevent the unjustified or improper timewise extension of the “right to exclude” granted by a patent and to prevent possible harassment by multiple assignees. A nonstatutory double patenting rejection is appropriate where the conflicting claims are not identical, but at least one examined application claim is not patentably distinct from the reference claim(s) because the examined application claim is either anticipated by, or would have been obvious over, the reference claim(s). See, e.g., In re Berg, 140 F.3d 1428, 46 USPQ2d 1226 (Fed. Cir. 1998); In re Goodman, 11 F.3d 1046, 29 USPQ2d 2010 (Fed. Cir. 1993); In re Longi, 759 F.2d 887, 225 USPQ 645 (Fed. Cir. 1985); In re Van Ornum, 686 F.2d 937, 214 USPQ 761 (CCPA 1982); In re Vogel, 422 F.2d 438, 164 USPQ 619 (CCPA 1970); In re Thorington, 418 F.2d 528, 163 USPQ 644 (CCPA 1969). A timely filed terminal disclaimer in compliance with 37 CFR 1.321(c) or 1.321(d) may be used to overcome an actual or provisional rejection based on nonstatutory double patenting provided the reference application or patent either is shown to be commonly owned with the examined application, or claims an invention made as a result of activities undertaken within the scope of a joint research agreement. See MPEP § 717.02 for applications subject to examination under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA as explained in MPEP § 2159. See MPEP § 2146 et seq. for applications not subject to examination under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA . A terminal disclaimer must be signed in compliance with 37 CFR 1.321(b). The filing of a terminal disclaimer by itself is not a complete reply to a nonstatutory double patenting (NSDP) rejection. A complete reply requires that the terminal disclaimer be accompanied by a reply requesting reconsideration of the prior Office action. Even where the NSDP rejection is provisional the reply must be complete. See MPEP § 804, subsection I.B.1. For a reply to a non-final Office action, see 37 CFR 1.111(a). For a reply to final Office action, see 37 CFR 1.113(c). A request for reconsideration while not provided for in 37 CFR 1.113(c) may be filed after final for consideration. See MPEP §§ 706.07(e) and 714.13. The USPTO Internet website contains terminal disclaimer forms which may be used. Please visit www.uspto.gov/patent/patents-forms. The actual filing date of the application in which the form is filed determines what form (e.g., PTO/SB/25, PTO/SB/26, PTO/AIA /25, or PTO/AIA /26) should be used. A web-based eTerminal Disclaimer may be filled out completely online using web-screens. An eTerminal Disclaimer that meets all requirements is auto-processed and approved immediately upon submission. For more information about eTerminal Disclaimers, refer to www.uspto.gov/patents/apply/applying-online/eterminal-disclaimer. Claim 1 is provisionally rejected on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting as being unpatentable over claim 1 of copending Application No. 18/555,233 (reference application). Although the claims at issue are not identical, they are not patentably distinct from each other because copending ‘233 teaches a preparation of a compound of Formula 7 comprising preparation of formula 4 PNG media_image1.png 299 540 media_image1.png Greyscale by a coupling compound of formula 2 PNG media_image2.png 213 295 media_image2.png Greyscale with a compound of formula 3 PNG media_image3.png 264 322 media_image3.png Greyscale in the presence of a dimethylacetamide (DMA) solvent, wherein R1 is hydrogen or substituted or unsubstituted alkyl; R2 is hydrogen, substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, halogen, CN, CF 3 or COCF 3 ; R3 and R4 are each hydrogen, substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, or halogen; R5 is hydrogen, substituted or unsubstituted alkyl or halogen, X is C or N; L is a leaving group. This is a provisional nonstatutory double patenting rejection because the patentably indistinct claims have not in fact been patented. Conclusion Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to MIKHAIL O'DONNEL ROBINSON whose telephone number is (571)270-0777. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Friday 7:30am-5:30pm. 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. MIKHAIL O'DONNEL. ROBINSON Examiner Art Unit 1627 /MIKHAIL O'DONNEL ROBINSON/Examiner, Art Unit 1627 /SARAH PIHONAK/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1627
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Prosecution Timeline

Oct 12, 2023
Application Filed
Jan 05, 2026
Non-Final Rejection — §102, §DP (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
57%
Grant Probability
99%
With Interview (+47.7%)
3y 6m
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 103 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allow rate.

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