Prosecution Insights
Last updated: October 25, 2026
Application No. 18/678,931

TRICYCLIC COMPOUNDS AS INHIBITORS OF KRAS

Final Rejection §112
Filed
May 30, 2024
Priority
Jan 10, 2020 — provisional 62/959,536 +4 more
Examiner
AULAKH, CHARANJIT
Art Unit
1621
Tech Center
1600 — Biotechnology & Organic Chemistry
Assignee
INCYTE Corporation
OA Round
2 (Final)
81%
Grant Probability
Favorable
3-4
OA Rounds
0m
Est. Remaining
66%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 81% — above average
81%
Career Allowance Rate
1444 granted / 1790 resolved
+20.7% vs TC avg
Minimal -14% lift
Without
With
+-14.5%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Fast prosecutor
2y 0m
Avg Prosecution
56 currently pending
Career history
1839
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
3.4%
-36.6% vs TC avg
§103
14.8%
-25.2% vs TC avg
§102
20.5%
-19.5% vs TC avg
§112
43.6%
+3.6% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 1790 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 . According to paper filed on Sep. 18, 2026, the applicants have canceled claim 45 and furthermore, have amended claim 47. Claims 1-2, 4, 7, 9, 12, 16, 18-19, 24, 33, 37-39, 42-43, 46-49 and 51-52 are pending in the application. Response to Arguments Applicants’ arguments filed Sep. 18, 2026 have been fully considered but they are not persuasive regarding indefinite rejection of claim 46 and both ODP rejections. Regarding indefiniteness rejection, the applicants argue on pages 56-57 that claim 46 is broad but not indefinite. The examiner does not agree with these arguments. Claim 46 is indefinite since diseases associated with either hyperactivity or hypoactivity of KRAS protein, are not defined. The diseases will be different based on hyperactivity or hypoactivity of KRAS protein. Regarding both ODP rejections, the applicants did not file either terminal disclaimer or amended claims to overcome these rejections. Conclusion Rejection of claim 46 under 35 U.S.C. 112, 2nd paragraph is maintained. The ODP rejection of claims 1-2, 4, 7, 9, 12, 16, 19, 24, 33, 37-39 and 42 over U.S. Patent 12, 441,727 is maintained. The ODP rejection of claims 1-2, 4, 7, 9, 12, 16, 19, 24, 33, 37-39, 42-43 and 46-49 over U.S. Patent 12, 600,717 is maintained. NEW GROUNDS OF REJECTION Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112 8. 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 51 and 52 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. Claims 51 and 52 depend upon claim 45 which has been canceled. Allowable Subject Matter Claim 18 is objected to as being dependent upon a rejected base claim, but would be allowable if rewritten in independent form including all of the limitations of the base claim and any intervening claims. Applicants’ amendment necessitated the new ground(s) of rejection presented in this Office action. Accordingly, THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. See MPEP § 706.07(a). Applicants are reminded of the extension of time policy as set forth in 37 CFR 1.136(a). A shortened statutory period for reply to this final action is set to expire THREE MONTHS from the mailing date of this action. In the event a first reply is filed within TWO MONTHS of the mailing date of this final action and the advisory action is not mailed until after the end of the THREE-MONTH shortened statutory period, then the shortened statutory period will expire on the date the advisory action is mailed, and any nonprovisional extension fee (37 CFR 1.17(a)) pursuant to 37 CFR 1.136(a) will be calculated from the mailing date of the advisory action. In no event, however, will the statutory period for reply expire later than SIX MONTHS from the mailing date of this final action. Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to CHARANJIT AULAKH whose telephone number is (571)272-0678. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Friday 7:00-3:30. 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, Clinton A Brooks can be reached at 571-270-7682. 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. /CHARANJIT AULAKH/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1621
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

May 30, 2024
Application Filed
Jun 03, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §112
Sep 18, 2026
Response Filed
Sep 30, 2026
Final Rejection mailed — §112 (current)

Precedent Cases

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Study what changed to get past this examiner. Based on 5 most recent grants.

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Prosecution Projections

3-4
Expected OA Rounds
81%
Grant Probability
66%
With Interview (-14.5%)
2y 0m (~0m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Moderate
PTA Risk
Based on 1790 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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