Prosecution Insights
Last updated: July 17, 2026
Application No. 18/723,613

FLAVOR IMPROVER FOR PLANT-BASED RAW MATERIALS AND APPLICATION THEREOF

Non-Final OA §102
Filed
Jun 24, 2024
Priority
Dec 27, 2021 — JP 2021-212882 +1 more
Examiner
ZILBERING, ASSAF
Art Unit
1792
Tech Center
1700 — Chemical & Materials Engineering
Assignee
Amano Enzyme Inc.
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
35%
Grant Probability
At Risk
1-2
OA Rounds
2y 1m
Est. Remaining
63%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants only 35% of cases
35%
Career Allowance Rate
226 granted / 645 resolved
-30.0% vs TC avg
Strong +28% interview lift
Without
With
+28.2%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
4y 2m
Avg Prosecution
42 currently pending
Career history
716
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
0.7%
-39.3% vs TC avg
§103
93.8%
+53.8% vs TC avg
§102
3.1%
-36.9% vs TC avg
§112
2.0%
-38.0% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 645 resolved cases

Office Action

§102
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 . DETAILED ACTION Claim 18 was added. Claims 1-18 are pending in the current application. Claims 1-11 and 18 are withdrawn from consideration (see discussion, below). Claims 12-17 are examined in the current application. Election/Restrictions Applicant’s election without traverse of 12-17 in the reply filed on June 4th 2026 is acknowledged. Claims 1-11 and 18 withdrawn from further consideration pursuant to 37 CFR 1.142(b) as being drawn to a nonelected inventions, there being no allowable generic or linking claim. Election was made without traverse in the reply filed on June 4th 2026. 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 12-17 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Saburi et al., (WO 2010/032510 A1 – Machine translation). Regarding claims 12-17: Saburi discloses a method of forming a flavor enhancing composition, where starch is digested with cyclodextrin glucanotransferase and the product is used in foods and beverages (see Saburi abstract; Detailed Description of The Invention from bottom of page 3 to the bottom of page 4), which meets the claimed limitations. Conclusion Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to ASSAF ZILBERING whose telephone number is (571)270-3029. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 8:30-5:00. 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, Erik Kashnikow can be reached on (571) 270-3475. 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. /ASSAF ZILBERING/Examiner, Art Unit 1792
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Jun 24, 2024
Application Filed
Jul 01, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §102 (current)

Precedent Cases

Applications granted by this same examiner with similar technology

Patent 12672658
OIL-AND-FAT COMPOSITION
5y 5m to grant Granted Jul 07, 2026
Patent 12672663
STABILIZED SEMISOLID FOOD PRODUCTS
4y 11m to grant Granted Jul 07, 2026
Patent 12660835
STABILIZED OIL AND METHODS OF MAKING THE SAME
3y 5m to grant Granted Jun 23, 2026
Patent 12654148
THERMALLY ACTIVATED BLEACHING CLAY PRODUCT FOR OIL BLEACHING
3y 11m to grant Granted Jun 16, 2026
Patent 12642281
OIL/FAT COMPOSITION
4y 8m to grant Granted Jun 02, 2026
Study what changed to get past this examiner. Based on 5 most recent grants.

Strategy Recommendation AI-generated — please review before filing

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Prosecution Projections

1-2
Expected OA Rounds
35%
Grant Probability
63%
With Interview (+28.2%)
4y 2m (~2y 1m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 645 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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