Prosecution Insights
Last updated: July 17, 2026
Application No. 18/557,882

ETONOGESTREL FORMULATION

Non-Final OA §112
Filed
Oct 27, 2023
Priority
Apr 30, 2021 — EU 21305559.3 +1 more
Examiner
AZPURU, CARLOS A
Art Unit
1617
Tech Center
1600 — Biotechnology & Organic Chemistry
Assignee
Medincell SA
OA Round
2 (Non-Final)
84%
Grant Probability
Favorable
2-3
OA Rounds
0m
Est. Remaining
94%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 84% — above average
84%
Career Allowance Rate
1076 granted / 1286 resolved
+23.7% vs TC avg
Moderate +10% lift
Without
With
+10.5%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 7m
Avg Prosecution
29 currently pending
Career history
1312
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
2.0%
-38.0% vs TC avg
§103
32.1%
-7.9% vs TC avg
§102
19.7%
-20.3% vs TC avg
§112
21.5%
-18.5% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 1286 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 . An amendment was filed on 05/08/2026. Withdrawn Rejection(s) The rejection under 35 USC 112, second paragraph, for “prodrug” is withdrawn in view of the amendment filed 05/08/2026. The rejection under 35 USC 103 over CN 103446043 (Liaoning in view of WO 2019/016233 (Medincell). New rejection(s) 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 1, 2, 4, 6-10, 12, and 20-23 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 invention is described as a triblock copolymer and a diblock copolymer which delivers etonogestrel. A, A1 , C and D are described as repeating units of m , n, q , and r. However there is no antecedent basis for these references in the formulas references. In other words , neither A or A1 formulas are shown to have m or n. The same occurs for C and D formulas which lack inclusion of q and r. Clarification is required. 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. Claims1, 2, 4, 6-10, 12, and 20-23 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. The invention is described as a triblock copolymer and a diblock copolymer which delivers etonogestrel. A, A1 , C and D are described as repeating units of m , n, q , and r. However there is no antecedent bases for these references in the formulas references. In other words , neither A or A1 formulas are shown to have m or n. The same occurs for C and D formulas which lack inclusion of q and r. Clarification is required. All formulas referenced should include the repeating units m,n, q and r before they are referenced as subunits. Conclusion No claims are allowed. Correspondence Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to CARLOS A AZPURU whose telephone number is (571)272-0588. The examiner can normally be reached 9 am- 3 pm, 4 pm-8pm. 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, Sue X Liu can be reached at 571-272-5539. 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. /CARLOS A AZPURU/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1617 caz
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Prosecution Timeline

Oct 27, 2023
Application Filed
Feb 11, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §112
May 08, 2026
Response Filed
Jun 26, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §112 (current)

Precedent Cases

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Patent 12673134
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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
84%
Grant Probability
94%
With Interview (+10.5%)
2y 7m (~0m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Moderate
PTA Risk
Based on 1286 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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