Prosecution Insights
Last updated: April 19, 2026
Application No. 18/559,184

WDR5 INHIBITORS AND MODULATORS

Non-Final OA §102§112
Filed
Nov 06, 2023
Examiner
TRAN, ERIC
Art Unit
1629
Tech Center
1600 — Biotechnology & Organic Chemistry
Assignee
VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
70%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
2y 8m
To Grant
94%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 70% — above average
70%
Career Allow Rate
66 granted / 95 resolved
+9.5% vs TC avg
Strong +24% interview lift
Without
With
+24.0%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 8m
Avg Prosecution
35 currently pending
Career history
130
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
1.7%
-38.3% vs TC avg
§103
28.9%
-11.1% vs TC avg
§102
16.6%
-23.4% vs TC avg
§112
33.0%
-7.0% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 95 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 The instant application claims priority to provisional application 63/184,904, filed on 05/06/2021, and is a 371 of PCT/US2022/028141, filed on 05/06/2022. Status of the Claims Per Applicant’s amendment to the claims, submitted on 06/10/2024, claims 1, 3, 22-24, 26-27, 29, 32-33 are amended, and claims 2, 5-21, 28, 30-31, and 34-35 are canceled. Currently, claims 1, 3-4, 22-27, 29, and 32-33 are pending in the instant application. Information Disclosure Statement The information disclosure statement (IDS) submitted on 04/09/2024 and 12/29/2025 are in compliance with the provisions of 37 CFR 1.97. Accordingly, the information disclosure statement is being considered by the examiner. Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112 First Paragraph 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 32-33 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. Claim 32 recites a method for treating cancer. Under broadest reasonable interpretation, the recitation of “cancer” would encompass any and all types of cancers. As is generally understood in the art, cancer can manifest in a plethora of different forms and can be localized in different parts of the body, with differing etiologies and pathophysiology. For instance, basal cell carcinoma and leukemia would both be considered as cancers, despite being significantly different from one another. The instant claim cannot be considered as meeting the written description requirement because Applicant’s disclosure could not reasonably be enabling for the treatment of any and all cancers. Claim 33 recites a method of inhibiting cancer cell proliferation in a subject in need thereof. Under broadest reasonable interpretation, the instant claim could encompass a subject suffering from any possible metastatic cancer. As is generally understood in the art, such cancers can manifest in a plethora of different forms and can be localized in different parts of the body, with differing etiologies and pathophysiology. For instance, metastatic bladder and bone cancers are different manifestations of metastatic cancer, which are considered as different from one another. The instant claim cannot be considered as meeting the written description requirement because Applicant’s disclosure could not reasonably be enabling for the treatment of any and all metastatic cancers having cancer cell proliferation. 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. Claim(s) 1 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) as being anticipated by Lee (WO2021092525A1) . The applied reference has a common Applicant and inventors 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. Claim 1 recites a compound of formula(I): PNG media_image1.png 155 197 media_image1.png Greyscale Lee teaches compounds as WDR5 inhibitors and methods of use of said compounds in treating related diseases such as cancer. Among the compounds taught by Lee is the following compound I-72 (page 65): PNG media_image2.png 125 215 media_image2.png Greyscale The above compound anticipates a compound of the instant claim wherein: G1 is PNG media_image3.png 80 225 media_image3.png Greyscale , wherein R10f is halogen and n is 1 G2 is a five memvered heteroaryl substituted with a C1 alkyl and a C1 fluoroalkyl R5 is H R6 is H R8 is unsubstituted imidazolyl Claim 3 further limits the compound of claim 1 wherein: PNG media_image4.png 352 615 media_image4.png Greyscale Compound I-72 of Lee is a compound wherein R8 is PNG media_image5.png 121 148 media_image5.png Greyscale , and further wherein R20a, R20b, and R20c are each H. Claim 4 further limits the compound of claim 3 wherein R8 is selected from: PNG media_image6.png 88 526 media_image6.png Greyscale Compound I-72 of Lee is a compound wherein R8 is PNG media_image7.png 51 64 media_image7.png Greyscale . Claim 22 further limits the compound of claim 1 wherein G2 is an optionally substituted 5-6 membered heteroaryl. The compound of Lee is a compound of formula(I) wherein the corresponding G2 moiety is an unsubstituted 5-membered heteroaryl. Claim 23 further limits the compound of claim 22 wherein G2 is optionally substituted pyrazolyl. Compound I-72 of Lee is a compound of formula(I) wherein G2 is substituted pyrazolyl. Claim 24 further limits the compound of claim 22 wherein G2 is substituted with 1-4 substituents independently selected from halogen, C1-4 alkyl, and C-1-4 fluoroalkyl. Compound I-72 of Lee is a compound of formula(I) wherein G2 is substituted with a C1 alkyl and C1 fluoroalkyl. Claim 25 further limits the compound of claim 24 wherein G2 is: PNG media_image8.png 76 205 media_image8.png Greyscale Compound I-72 of Lee is a compound of formula(I) wherein G2 meets the recited moiety. Claim 26 further limits the compound of claim 1 wherein R5 is hydrogen. Compound I-72 of Lee is a compound of formula(I) wherein R5 is hydrogen. Claim 27 further limits the compound of claim 1 wherein R6 is hydrogen. Compound I-72 of Lee is a compound of formula(I) wherein R6 is hydrogen. Claim 29 recites a composition comprising the compound of claim 1. The teachings of Lee are also directed towards compositions comprising the target compounds. Claim 32 recites a method of treating cancer comprising administering to a subject in need thereof, a therapeutically effective amount if a compound of claim 1. The teachings of Lee are directed towards the treatment of cancer (Abstract)1. Claim 33 recites a method of inhibiting cancer cell proliferation, comprising administering to a subject in need thereof, a therapeutically effective amount if a compound of claim 1. The teachings of Lee are directed towards the treatment of cancer cell proliferation (Abstract). Conclusion Claims 1, 3-4, 22-27, 29, and 32-33 are rejected. Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to ERIC TRAN whose telephone number is (571)272-7854. The examiner can normally be reached Mon-Fri 8:00-5:00. 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, Jeffrey S Lundgren can be reached at (571) 272-5541. 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. /ERIC TRAN/Examiner, Art Unit 1629 /JEFFREY S LUNDGREN/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 1629 1 “Isoquinolone compounds and derivatives inhibit WDR5 and associated protein-protein interactions, and the com pounds and their pharmaceutical compositions are useful for treating disorders and conditions in a subject, such as cancer cell proliferation.”
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Prosecution Timeline

Nov 06, 2023
Application Filed
Mar 07, 2026
Non-Final Rejection — §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
70%
Grant Probability
94%
With Interview (+24.0%)
2y 8m
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 95 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allow rate.

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