Prosecution Insights
Last updated: October 27, 2026

William Y Lee, USPTO Patent Examiner

Listed by the USPTO as LEE, WILLIAM Y

Tech Center 1600 • Art Units: 1623 1626 1629

This examiner grants 48% of resolved cases

Analysis

LEE, WILLIAM Y is assigned to Tech Center 1600 and Art Unit 1623. The profile includes 711 resolved cases and records a 48.0% allowance rate. The median time to allowance is 1170 days, indicating that applicants should plan for both a challenging outcome pattern and an extended prosecution timeline.

The interview lift is 34.1%, making interviews an important consideration in prosecution strategy. Sydnexis, Sage Therapeutics, and Spruce Biosciences are the leading listed companies. WILSON SONSINI GOODRICH & ROSATI, BakerHostetler, and Knobbe Martens are the leading listed firms. The company mix is concentrated in therapeutic and life sciences work.

Written from this page's own data; every figure is computed from USPTO records and verified before publication.

Performance Statistics

48.0%
Allow Rate
-12.0% vs TC avg
798
Total Applications
+34.1%
Interview Lift
1170
Avg Prosecution Days
Based on 711 resolved cases, 2023–2026

Rejection Statute Breakdown

1.5%
§101 Eligibility
13.0%
§102 Novelty
45.0%
§103 Obviousness
21.2%
§112 Clarity

Currently Pending Office Actions

App #TitleStatusAssignee
17727519 Method of Treating Colorectal Cancers Using a PKC Inhibitor Final Rejection UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA RESEARCH FOUNDATION, INC.
18291083 SUBSTITUTED PYRIDONE COMPOUNDS USEFUL TO TREAT ORTHOMYXOVIRUS INFECTIONS Non-Final OA NOVARTIS AG
18567952 PESTICIDALLY ACTIVE DIAZINE-AMIDE COMPOUNDS Non-Final OA SYNGENTA CROP PROTECTION AG
18383256 AGENTS AND METHODS FOR PREVENTING AND TREATING SKELETAL MUSCLE DISEASES Non-Final OA The Regents Of the University of California
18201882 MULTIBIOTIC AGENTS AND METHODS OF USING THE SAME Non-Final OA Flagship Pioneering Innovations V, Inc.
18237705 COMPOSITIONS AND METHODS FOR IMPROVED TREATMENT OF PLATINUM-BASED CHEMOTHERAPEUTIC RESISTANT TUMORS Non-Final OA THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO, A BODY CORPORATE
18684808 QUINACRINE AND DERIVATIVES THEREOF FOR TREATMENT OF VIRAL INFECTIONS Non-Final OA ARIZONA BOARD OF REGENTS ON BEHALF OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA
18113981 COMPOSITIONS AND METHODS FOR TREATING NEURODEGENERATIVE DISORDERS Non-Final OA THE TRUSTEES OF COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK
18784718 OPHTHALMIC COMPOSITION Final Rejection Sydnexis, Inc.
17894882 OPHTHALMIC COMPOSITION Final Rejection Sydnexis, Inc.
17894884 OPHTHALMIC COMPOSITION Final Rejection Sydnexis, Inc.
17894885 OPHTHALMIC COMPOSITION Final Rejection Sydnexis, Inc.
18280357 Pelargonic Acid for Use Against Viral Infections Non-Final OA Nutrition Sciences N.V.
17874522 GLYCOLIC ACID PROTECTS AGAINST ISCHEMIC INSULTS Final Rejection Individual inventor

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is examiner William Y Lee's allowance rate?

48.0% of resolved applications examined by William Y Lee were allowed (711 resolved cases), compared with 51.3% across Art Unit 1623 over the last five years.

Does an interview help with examiner William Y Lee?

This examiner's interview lift is +34.1 percentage points: the difference in allowance rate between resolved applications that had an examiner interview and those that did not.

How long does examiner William Y Lee take to allow a patent?

Applications allowed by William Y Lee took 1,170 days on average from filing to allowance.

Which art unit does examiner William Y Lee work in?

William Y Lee examines applications in Art Unit 1623 in Tech Center 1600 (Biotechnology & Pharmaceuticals).

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