Technology areas: Biotechnology & Pharmaceuticals • Chemistry & Materials
24 pending office actions • 10 art units • 19 examiners • 0 of 24 (0%) have an AI response strategy ready • 9 patents granted in the last 365 days
Meiji Co., Ltd. has 23 pending office actions in Chemistry & Materials. The matters involve 18 examiners and 10 art units, showing a portfolio with repeated examination assignments and a more concentrated technical distribution. The gap between pending matters and examiners indicates that some examiners handle multiple matters, while the smaller art-unit count points to recurring technical venues.
HOFFMAN, SUSAN COE is the busiest identified examiner, with 3 pending matters. That assignment is a useful focus for identifying consistent response themes, but it does not account for the full docket. Counsel should combine examiner-specific preparation with art-unit tracking and a coordinated approach to claim amendments across related technologies.
Based on the USPTO statutory response window for each pending office action. 9 of the docket's apps have a known mailing date; the rest are excluded from the tile counts.
Every pending office action with a known statutory deadline, placed on a days-until-due axis. Dots left of Today are overdue; the further right, the more runway. Cases that share a deadline window stack vertically. 9 of the docket's apps have a known mailing date.
Difficulty is derived from the rejection statutes on the most recent pending office action. §101-driven and multi-statute cases are graded Hard; §112-only and obviousness-type double-patenting cases are graded Easy; everything else is Medium. "Unknown" means we have not yet parsed a statute for that office action.
| Bucket | Cases |
|---|---|
| §101 only | 1 (4%) |
| §101 + other | 4 (17%) |
| §103 only | 5 (21%) |
| §112 only | 1 (4%) |
| Double-patenting + other | 2 (8%) |
| Multi-statute (no §101) | 11 (46%) |
How the docket's pending cases split across USPTO tech-center bands.
Manual office-action response work runs about 10 hours per case. The time-saved bands below show what IP Author's prosecution pipeline typically delivers — a conservative 20% on the low end, 35% in the middle, 50% on the high end.
| Examiner | Apps on this docket | Allow rate | Interview lift |
|---|---|---|---|
| HOFFMAN, SUSAN COE | 3 | 54.2% | +25.7% |
| DUBOIS, PHILIP A | 3 | 25.6% | +26.3% |
| MERRIAM, ANDREW E | 2 | 28.3% | +33.9% |
| BERHANU, ETSUB D | 1 | 65.1% | +24.7% |
| CRUM, MARY ABOU NADER | 1 | 39.2% | +63.7% |
| CHO, DAVID H | 1 | 31.9% | +67.0% |
| LI, CHANGQING | 1 | 29.2% | +33.1% |
| CHAWLA, JYOTI | 1 | 52.7% | +30.5% |
| BEKKER, KELLY JO | 1 | 16.8% | +35.1% |
| BERKE-SCHLESSEL, DAVID W | 1 | 66.8% | +31.5% |
Multi-statute / §101-driven matters, or cases in front of an examiner with an allow rate under 30%. The top 8 ordered by deadline are shown.
| App # | Title | Examiner | Due in |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18018672 | SOLID FOOD AND SOLID MILK | DUBOIS, PHILIP A | 134d overdue |
| 18021897 | LACTIC ACID BACTERIA STARTER, METHOD FOR PRODUCING FERMENTED MILK, AND FERMENTED MILK | TURNER, FELICIA C | 42d overdue |
| 18564842 | CACAO FRUIT GROUND PRODUCT AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING THE SAME | BEKKER, KELLY JO | 8d overdue |
| 17789045 | LACTIC ACID BACTERIUM FERMENTATION PROMOTER | GOUGH, TIFFANY MAUREEN | 6d |
| 18286680 | METHOD FOR DETECTING EXOPOLYSACCHARIDE | BERKE-SCHLESSEL, DAVID W | 8d |
| 17790826 | SOLID FOOD, COMPRESSION MOLDED BODY OF FOOD POWDER, SOLID MILK, AND COMPRESSION MOLDED BODY OF POWDERED MILK | RODGERS, ARIEL M | 12d |
| 18018648 | SOLID MILK | DUBOIS, PHILIP A | 14d |
| 19182834 | MASTICATORY MOVEMENT ANALYSIS METHOD | BERHANU, ETSUB D | — |
Cases in front of an examiner whose interview lift is 10 percentage points or more — i.e. interviewed cases historically resolve more favorably than non-interviewed ones. The top 8 ordered by deadline are shown.
| App # | Title | Examiner | Due in |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18018672 | SOLID FOOD AND SOLID MILK | DUBOIS, PHILIP A | 134d overdue |
| 18564842 | CACAO FRUIT GROUND PRODUCT AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING THE SAME | BEKKER, KELLY JO | 8d overdue |
| 18286680 | METHOD FOR DETECTING EXOPOLYSACCHARIDE | BERKE-SCHLESSEL, DAVID W | 8d |
| 18018648 | SOLID MILK | DUBOIS, PHILIP A | 14d |
| 19182834 | MASTICATORY MOVEMENT ANALYSIS METHOD | BERHANU, ETSUB D | — |
| 18872093 | CACAO DERIVED COMPOSITION, AS WELL AS MOISTURIZING AGENT, SKIN QUALITY IMPROVING AGENT, HAIR QUALITY IMPROVING AGENT, COSMETIC FOR SKIN, COSMETIC FOR HAIR, PHARMACEUTICAL COMPOSITION AND FOOD COMPOSITION EACH CONTAINING THE CACAO DERIVED COMPOSITION | HOFFMAN, SUSAN COE | — |
| 18872126 | CACAO DERIVED COMPOSITION, AS WELL AS MOISTURIZING AGENT, SKIN QUALITY IMPROVING AGENT, HAIR QUALITY IMPROVING AGENT, COSMETIC FOR SKIN, COSMETIC FOR HAIR, PHARMACEUTICAL COMPOSITION AND FOOD COMPOSITION EACH CONTAINING THE CACAO DERIVED COMPOSITION | HOFFMAN, SUSAN COE | — |
| 18837974 | LACTIC ACID BACTERIUM, LACTIC ACID BACTERIUM COMPOSITION, METHOD FOR PRODUCING LACTIC ACID BACTERIUM, METHOD FOR IMPROVING ACID TOLERANCE OF LACTIC ACID BACTERIUM, METHOD FOR SCREENING LACTIC ACID BACTERIUM, AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING FERMENTED MILK | CRUM, MARY ABOU NADER | — |
| Art Unit | Apps |
|---|---|
| 1791 | 8 |
| 1655 | 3 |
| 1792 | 3 |
| 1651 | 2 |
| 1793 | 2 |
| 1657 | 1 |
| 1693 | 1 |
| 1645 | 1 |
| 1656 | 1 |
| 1652 | 1 |
| App # | Title | Examiner | Art Unit | Statutes | Status | Due in | AI | Filed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19182834 | MASTICATORY MOVEMENT ANALYSIS METHOD | BERHANU, ETSUB D | — | §101§102§103§112 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Apr 18, 2025 |
| 18872093 | CACAO DERIVED COMPOSITION, AS WELL AS MOISTURIZING AGENT, SKIN QUALITY IMPROVING AGENT, HAIR QUALITY IMPROVING AGENT, COSMETIC FOR SKIN, COSMETIC FOR HAIR, PHARMACEUTICAL COMPOSITION AND FOOD COMPOSITION EACH CONTAINING THE CACAO DERIVED COMPOSITION | HOFFMAN, SUSAN COE | 1655 | §101§102DP | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Dec 05, 2024 |
| 18872126 | CACAO DERIVED COMPOSITION, AS WELL AS MOISTURIZING AGENT, SKIN QUALITY IMPROVING AGENT, HAIR QUALITY IMPROVING AGENT, COSMETIC FOR SKIN, COSMETIC FOR HAIR, PHARMACEUTICAL COMPOSITION AND FOOD COMPOSITION EACH CONTAINING THE CACAO DERIVED COMPOSITION | HOFFMAN, SUSAN COE | 1655 | §101§103DP | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Dec 05, 2024 |
| 18837974 | LACTIC ACID BACTERIUM, LACTIC ACID BACTERIUM COMPOSITION, METHOD FOR PRODUCING LACTIC ACID BACTERIUM, METHOD FOR IMPROVING ACID TOLERANCE OF LACTIC ACID BACTERIUM, METHOD FOR SCREENING LACTIC ACID BACTERIUM, AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING FERMENTED MILK | CRUM, MARY ABOU NADER | 1657 | §101§102§103§112 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Aug 13, 2024 |
| 18720268 | COMPOSITIONS FOR PREVENTING OR FOR REDUCING RISK OF DEVELOPING SECONDARY INFECTIOUS DISEASES | CHO, DAVID H | 1693 | §103§112 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Jun 14, 2024 |
| 18689569 | LACTIC ACID BACTERIUM, LACTIC ACID BACTERIUM STARTER, FERMENTED MILK, METHOD FOR PRODUCING FERMENTED MILK, AND METHOD FOR SCREENING LACTIC ACID BACTERIUM | LI, CHANGQING | 1791 | §102§103§112 | Final Rejection | — | Pending | Mar 06, 2024 |
| 18578588 | COMPOSITION FOR INDUCING AUTOPHAGY | HOFFMAN, SUSAN COE | 1655 | §102§103 | Final Rejection | — | Pending | Jan 11, 2024 |
| 18564328 | PUFFED FOOD AND DOUGH COMPOSITION THEREFOR | CHAWLA, JYOTI | 1791 | §103 | Final Rejection | — | Pending | Jan 09, 2024 |
| 18564842 | CACAO FRUIT GROUND PRODUCT AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING THE SAME | BEKKER, KELLY JO | 1792 | §102§103§112 | Final Rejection | 8d overdue | Pending | Nov 28, 2023 |
| 18564313 | PUFFED FOOD | MERRIAM, ANDREW E | 1791 | §102§103 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Nov 27, 2023 |
| 18286680 | METHOD FOR DETECTING EXOPOLYSACCHARIDE | BERKE-SCHLESSEL, DAVID W | 1651 | §101 | Final Rejection | 8d | Pending | Oct 12, 2023 |
| 18266167 | COMPOSITION COMPRISING BACTERIUM OF THE GENUS ACIDIPROPIONIBACTERIUM OR PROCESSED PRODUCT THEREOF | DICKENS, AMELIA NICOLE | 1645 | §112 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Jun 08, 2023 |
| 18031301 | PROTEIN HAVING FERMENTED MILK VISCOSITY IMPROVING EFFECT, FERMENTED MILK USING THE SAME AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING THE SAME | TSAY, MARSHA M | 1656 | §103 | Final Rejection | 9d overdue | Pending | Apr 11, 2023 |
| 18021897 | LACTIC ACID BACTERIA STARTER, METHOD FOR PRODUCING FERMENTED MILK, AND FERMENTED MILK | TURNER, FELICIA C | 1793 | §102§103 | Non-Final OA | 42d overdue | Pending | Feb 17, 2023 |
| 18018648 | SOLID MILK | DUBOIS, PHILIP A | 1791 | §102§103 | Final Rejection | 14d | Pending | Jan 30, 2023 |
| 18018672 | SOLID FOOD AND SOLID MILK | DUBOIS, PHILIP A | 1791 | §102DP | Final Rejection | 134d overdue | Pending | Jan 30, 2023 |
| 18018673 | SOLID FOOD AND SOLID MILK | DUBOIS, PHILIP A | 1791 | §102DP | Final Rejection | — | Pending | Jan 30, 2023 |
| 17928983 | OILY SOLID FOOD | MERRIAM, ANDREW E | 1791 | §103§112 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Dec 01, 2022 |
| 17790826 | SOLID FOOD, COMPRESSION MOLDED BODY OF FOOD POWDER, SOLID MILK, AND COMPRESSION MOLDED BODY OF POWDERED MILK | RODGERS, ARIEL M | 1792 | §103§112 | Final Rejection | 12d | Pending | Jul 05, 2022 |
| 17789045 | LACTIC ACID BACTERIUM FERMENTATION PROMOTER | GOUGH, TIFFANY MAUREEN | 1651 | §102§103§112 | Non-Final OA | 6d | Pending | Jun 24, 2022 |
| 17784312 | COMPOSITION FOR REDUCING HEART RATE | SHELTON, SYNPHANE LA'SHAWN | 1652 | §103Other | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Jun 10, 2022 |
| 17426908 | CACAO PULP JUICE DRIED POWDER, FOOD PRODUCT IN WHICH SAME IS BLENDED, AND METHODS FOR PRODUCING THESE | SWEENEY, MAURA ELIZABETH | 1791 | §103 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Jul 29, 2021 |
| 17288175 | METHOD FOR PRODUCING HIGH-PROTEIN MILK RAW MATERIAL | MCCLAIN, TYNESHA L. | 1793 | §103 | Non-Final OA | 202d overdue | Pending | Apr 23, 2021 |
| 16959781 | METHODS FOR PRODUCING FERMENTED MILK AND LACTIC ACID BACTERIA STARTER | AXTELL, ASHLEY | 1792 | §103§112 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Jul 02, 2020 |
IP Author helps IP teams respond to office actions faster with AI-generated responses, examiner analytics, and prosecution intelligence.
Start Free TrialMeiji Co., Ltd. has 24 pending office actions as of October 2026, spread across 10 art units and 19 examiners.
Susan Coe Hoffman has the most, with 3 of Meiji Co., Ltd.'s pending office actions.
Mostly Chemistry & Materials (USPTO Tech Center 1700), based on where its pending office actions are examined.
