Prosecution Insights
Last updated: July 17, 2026
Application No. 18/570,673

NOREPINEPHRINE REUPTAKE INHIBITORS FOR TREATING SLEEP APNEA

Non-Final OA §102
Filed
Dec 15, 2023
Priority
Jun 17, 2021 — provisional 63/211,673 +2 more
Examiner
RAHMANI, NILOOFAR
Art Unit
1691
Tech Center
1600 — Biotechnology & Organic Chemistry
Assignee
Apnimed Inc. (Delaware)
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
78%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
0m
Est. Remaining
74%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 78% — above average
78%
Career Allowance Rate
880 granted / 1136 resolved
+17.5% vs TC avg
Minimal -3% lift
Without
With
+-3.1%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Fast prosecutor
1y 11m
Avg Prosecution
35 currently pending
Career history
1151
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
0.5%
-39.5% vs TC avg
§103
18.8%
-21.2% vs TC avg
§102
32.5%
-7.5% vs TC avg
§112
22.7%
-17.3% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 1136 resolved cases

Office Action

§102
DETAILED ACTION Claims 26, 35, 39, 41-45 are pending in the instant application. 2. 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 26, 35, 39, 41-45 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) as being anticipated by Miller et al., WO 2020/091862. Miller et al. discloses viloxazine and trazodone (page 2) to treat sleep apnea (abstract). Therefore, the instant claims are anticipated by Miller et al. Claims 26, 35, 39, 41-45 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) as being anticipated by Montemurro et al., WO 2020/163785. Montemurro et al. discloses viloxazine and trazodone (page 2) to treat sleep apnea and treating associated with pharyngeal airway muscle collapse (abstract). Therefore, the instant claims are anticipated by Montemurro et al. Claims 26, 35, 39, 41-45 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) and 102(a)(2) as being anticipated by Rapiy et al., WO 2006069030. Rapiy et al. discloses viloxazine and trazodone (page 16) to treat sleep apnea and treating associated with pharyngeal airway muscle collapse (page 1). Therefore, the instant claims are anticipated by Rapiy et al. Claims 26, 35, 39, 41-45 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) and 102(a)(2) as being anticipated by Maddaford et al., US 7,375,219. Maddaford et al. discloses viloxazine and trazodone (page 7) to treat sleep apnea and treating associated with pharyngeal airway muscle collapse (abstract). Therefore, the instant claims are anticipated by Maddaford et al. 6. Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to Niloofar Rahmani whose telephone number is 571-272-4329. The examiner can normally be reached on Monday through Friday from 8:30 am to 5:00 pm. If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Renee Claytor, can be reached on 571-272-8394. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 703-872-9306. Information regarding the status of an application may be obtained from the Patent Application Information Retrieval (PAIR) system. Status information for published applications may be obtained from either Private PAIR or public PAIR. Status information for unpublished applications is available through Private PAIR only. For more information about the PAIR system, see http://pair-direct.uspto.gov. Should you have questions on access to the Private PAIR system, contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free). /NILOOFAR RAHMANI/ 05/28/2026
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Dec 15, 2023
Application Filed
Jun 02, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §102 (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
78%
Grant Probability
74%
With Interview (-3.1%)
1y 11m (~0m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 1136 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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