Prosecution Insights
Last updated: October 02, 2026

Examiner: PIHONAK, SARAH

Tech Center 1600 • Art Units: 1617 1627

This examiner grants 61% of resolved cases

Analysis

Sarah Pihonak is an examiner in Tech Center 1600 and Art Unit 1617. The examiner has a high volume of 1510 resolved cases and an allowance rate of 61.3 percent. This indicates a moderate but consistent likelihood of success. The median days to allowance is 1028, which provides a timeline for the expected duration of prosecution. With 1510 resolved cases, the data is very robust.

The interview lift for this examiner is 42.6 percent. This is an exceptionally high lift, suggesting that interviews are a critical factor in achieving an allowance compared to the 61.3 percent baseline. Practitioners should make interviews a primary strategy to take advantage of the 42.6 percent increase in success probability. The 1028 median days to allowance is a key factor for planning in Art Unit 1617. Overall, the 61.3 percent allowance rate and the 42.6 percent interview lift suggest that proactive engagement is highly effective across the 1510 resolved cases.

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

Performance Statistics

61.3%
Allow Rate
+1.3% vs TC avg
1,551
Total Applications
+42.6%
Interview Lift
1028
Avg Prosecution Days
Based on 1510 resolved cases, 2023–2026

Rejection Statute Breakdown

2.3%
§101 Eligibility
10.2%
§102 Novelty
39.3%
§103 Obviousness
22.9%
§112 Clarity

Currently Pending Office Actions

App #TitleStatusAssignee
18579786 COMPOSITIONS COMPRISING CONSTITUENTS, DERIVATIVES OR EXTRACTS OF CANNABIS Non-Final OA Nicoventures Trading Limited
18035578 A Method of Treating Depression by Immune Modulation Non-Final OA The University of British Columbia
18237360 METALLOENZYME MODULATORS Non-Final OA Regents of the University of Minnesota
18548797 METHOD OF INCREASING THE POPULATION OF BLAUTIA SPP. IN THE GUT MICROBIOME Non-Final OA DSM IP Assets B.V.
18265660 Method and Composition for Treating Pulmonary Fibrosis Final Rejection MANNKIND CORPORATION
18841478 COMPOUNDS AND METHODS USEFUL FOR STABILIZING PHENYLALANINE HYDROXYLASE MUTATIONS Non-Final OA Agios Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
18016262 DENDRIMER COMPOSITIONS AND METHODS FOR DRUG DELIVERY TO INJURED KIDNEY Final Rejection Programmable Medicine Operating Company

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