Prosecution Insights
Last updated: August 07, 2026
Application No. 18/707,166

COMPOSITIONS USEFUL FOR MODULATING SPLICING

Non-Final OA §112
Filed
May 03, 2024
Priority
Nov 04, 2021 — provisional 63/275,808 +1 more
Examiner
FETTEROLF, BRANDON J
Art Unit
Tech Center
Assignee
Skyhawk Therapeutics Inc.
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
51%
Grant Probability
Moderate
1-2
OA Rounds
1y 3m
Est. Remaining
68%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 51% of resolved cases
51%
Career Allowance Rate
110 granted / 214 resolved
-8.6% vs TC avg
Strong +17% interview lift
Without
With
+17.1%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
3y 7m
Avg Prosecution
56 currently pending
Career history
265
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
2.4%
-37.6% vs TC avg
§103
28.3%
-11.7% vs TC avg
§102
20.7%
-19.3% vs TC avg
§112
29.2%
-10.8% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 214 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 . Application Status The preliminary amendment filed on 11/25/2024 is acknowledged. Claims 1-6, 13-22 and 24 are currently pending and under consideration. Information Disclosure Statement The information disclosure statements filed on 10/25/2024 and 5/05/2026 are acknowledged and has been considered except where lined through. Nucleotide and/or Amino Acid Sequence Disclosures Summary of Requirements for Patent Applications Filed On Or After July 1, 2022, That Have Sequence Disclosures 37 CFR 1.831(a) requires that patent applications which contain disclosures of nucleotide and/or amino acid sequences that fall within the definitions of 37 CFR 1.831(b) must contain a “Sequence Listing XML”, as a separate part of the disclosure, which presents the nucleotide and/or amino acid sequences and associated information using the symbols and format in accordance with the requirements of 37 CFR 1.831-1.835. This “Sequence Listing XML” part of the disclosure may be submitted: 1. In accordance with 37 CFR 1.831(a) using the symbols and format requirements of 37 CFR 1.832 through 1.834 via the USPTO patent electronic filing system (see Section I.1 of the Legal Framework for Patent Electronic System (https://www.uspto.gov/PatentLegalFramework), hereinafter “Legal Framework”) in XML format, together with an incorporation by reference statement of the material in the XML file in a separate paragraph of the specification (an incorporation by reference paragraph) as required by 37 CFR 1.835(a)(2) or 1.835(b)(2) identifying: a. the name of the XML file b. the date of creation; and c. the size of the XML file in bytes; or 2. In accordance with 37 CFR 1.831(a) using the symbols and format requirements of 37 CFR 1.832 through 1.834 on read-only optical disc(s) as permitted by 37 CFR 1.52(e)(1)(ii), labeled according to 37 CFR 1.52(e)(5), with an incorporation by reference statement of the material in the XML format according to 37 CFR 1.52(e)(8) and 37 CFR 1.835(a)(2) or 1.835(b)(2) in a separate paragraph of the specification identifying: a. the name of the XML file; b. the date of creation; and c. the size of the XML file in bytes. SPECIFIC DEFICIENCIES AND THE REQUIRED RESPONSE TO THIS NOTICE ARE AS FOLLOWS: Specific deficiency - This application fails to comply with the requirements of 37 CFR 1.831-1.834 because it does not contain a “Sequence Listing XML” as a separate part of the disclosure. A “Sequence Listing XML” is required. Required response - Applicant must provide: • A “Sequence Listing XML” part of the disclosure, as described above in item 1. or 2.; together with o A statement that indicates the basis for the amendment, with specific references to particular parts of the application as originally filed, as required by 37 CFR 1.835(a)(3); o A statement that the “Sequence Listing XML” includes no new matter as required by 37 CFR 1.835(a)(4) AND • A substitute specification in compliance with 37 CFR 1.52, 1.121(b)(3), and 1.125 inserting the required incorporation by reference paragraph as required by 37 CFR 1.835(a)(2), consisting of: o A copy of the previously-submitted specification, with deletions shown with strikethrough or brackets and insertions shown with underlining (marked-up version); o A copy of the amended specification without markings (clean version); and o A statement that the substitute specification contains no new matter. This application contains sequence disclosures in accordance with the definitions for nucleotide and/or amino acid sequences set forth in 37 CFR 1.831(a) and 1.831(b). However, this application fails to comply with the requirements of 37 CFR 1.831-1.834. The examiner has noted that the specification contains a nucleic acid sequence, see for example, paragraph 00134 of the specification, as originally filed. Applicant must provide: • A replacement “Sequence Listing XML” part of the disclosure, as described above in item 1. or 2., as well as • A statement that identifies the location of all additions, deletions, or replacements of sequence information in the “Sequence Listing XML” as required by 1.835(b)(3); • A statement that indicates support for the amendment in the application, as filed, as required by 37 CFR 1.835(b)(4); • A statement that the “Sequence Listing XML” includes no new matter in accordance with 1.835(b)(5); and • A substitute specification in compliance with 37 CFR 1.52, 1.121(b)(3), and 1.125 inserting the required incorporation by reference paragraph as required by 37 CFR 1.835(b)(2), consisting of: o A copy of the previously-submitted specification, with deletions shown with strikethrough or brackets and insertions shown with underlining (marked-up version); o A copy of the amended specification without markings (clean version); and A statement that the substitute specification contains no new matter. Specific deficiency - The incorporation by reference paragraph required by 37 CFR 1.834(c)(1), 1.835(a)(2), or 1.835(b)(2) is missing, defective or incomplete. Required response - Applicant must: • Provide a substitute specification in compliance with 37 CFR 1.52, 1.121(b)(3), and 1.125 inserting the required incorporation by reference paragraph, consisting of: • A copy of the previously-submitted specification, with deletions shown with strikethrough or brackets and insertions shown with underlining (marked-up version); • A copy of the amended specification without markings (clean version); and • A statement that the substitute specification contains no new matter. Specific deficiency - The “Sequence Listing XML” has not been entered into the application because the required statement of no new matter, in accordance with 37 CFR 1.835(a)(4) or 1.835(b)(5), is missing. Required response - Applicant must submit a statement that the “Sequence Listing XML,” identified by the date the “Sequence Listing XML” was filed, includes no new matter. 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. Claim 2 is 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 2 recites the limitation: PNG media_image1.png 173 642 media_image1.png Greyscale As such, all of the A variables can be C and the ring is fully saturated or partially unsaturated. However, claim 1 from which claim 2 depends defines R21 to include 6 membered aryl, heteroaryl or heterocycloalkyl which does not lend support for a 6 membered cycloalkyl. As such, there is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim. Conclusion Claims 1, 3-6, 13-22 and 24 are in condition for allowance. The closest prior art to the instantly claimed invention is considered to be to PTC Therapeutics INC (WO2022169866A1, 2022-08-11) whom discloses methods of treating spinocerebellar ataxia type 3 (SCA3) using substituted thieno[3,2-b]pyridine compounds having the general formula PNG media_image2.png 155 149 media_image2.png Greyscale (see claim 1). In particular, the WO document teaches a compound having the name 2-[(2Aj-2-ami nopropyl]-5-chl oro-Af-[(2-fluorophenyl Jmethyl ]-3-methyl thieno[3,2- b]pyridin-7-amine which has the formula PNG media_image3.png 154 228 media_image3.png Greyscale which differs from the instantly claimed compounds having a thieno[3,2-c]pyridazine PNG media_image4.png 115 159 media_image4.png Greyscale and there is no teaching or suggesting to make the claimed modification from the prior art. Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to BRANDON J FETTEROLF whose telephone number is (571)272-2919. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 6AM-4PM. 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. BRANDON J. FETTEROLF, PHD Primary Patent Examiner Art Unit 1626 /BRANDON J FETTEROLF/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1626
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Prosecution Timeline

May 03, 2024
Application Filed
Jul 16, 2026
Non-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

1-2
Expected OA Rounds
51%
Grant Probability
68%
With Interview (+17.1%)
3y 7m (~1y 3m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 214 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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