Prosecution Insights
Last updated: May 29, 2026
Application No. 18/584,867

ARIPIPRAZOLE SUSTAINED-RELEASE MICROSPHERE AND PREPARATION METHOD THEREFOR

Non-Final OA §112
Filed
Feb 22, 2024
Priority
May 16, 2018 — CN 201810468934.6 +3 more
Examiner
AZPURU, CARLOS A
Art Unit
1617
Tech Center
1600 — Biotechnology & Organic Chemistry
Assignee
Zhuhai Livzon Microsphere Technology Co. Ltd.
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
84%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
4m
Est. Remaining
94%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 84% — above average
84%
Career Allowance Rate
1070 granted / 1280 resolved
+23.6% vs TC avg
Moderate +10% lift
Without
With
+10.4%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 7m
Avg Prosecution
25 currently pending
Career history
1301
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
2.1%
-37.9% vs TC avg
§103
31.7%
-8.3% vs TC avg
§102
19.9%
-20.1% vs TC avg
§112
21.5%
-18.5% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 1280 resolved cases

Office Action

§112
DETAILED ACTION 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 . Information Disclosure Statement Information disclosure statements were filed 02/22/2024 and 05/07/2024. 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 1-10 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. Claim 1, parts 1) and 2) are indefinite in reciting a “certain temperature” without particularly setting it out. Further claims 6 and 9 set out different temperature ranges for this term. Clarification is requested. Claim 1, part 2), sets out “adjusting pH” without pointing out how it and to what pH it is adjusted. Claim 1, parts 1) – 3), set out “organic solvent A” without particularly pointing it out. Clarification is requested. Taken together, applicant has set out a method of making, without defining conditions such as pH, temperature, and the organic solvent used in the process. Applicant is requested to clarify the claimed method steps. Conclusion No claims are allowed. CN 106727358 A is cited as a patent of interest in disclosing a method of forming aripiprazole microspheres . It is noted that step 2) of claim 1 is missing from this reference. Specifically, the reference does not add a solution of PVA to the aripiprazole and organic solvent. CN 108498456 B to Livzon Pharmaceuticals sets out the same method as instantly claimed. However, this application claims priority to the same foreign priority document as the instant application. 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

Feb 22, 2024
Application Filed
Mar 24, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §112 (current)

Precedent Cases

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2y 6m to grant Granted Apr 28, 2026
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
84%
Grant Probability
94%
With Interview (+10.4%)
2y 7m (~4m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 1280 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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