What is the enablement standard for compound or composition claims not limited by a recited use?

For compound or composition claims not limited by a recited use, the enablement standard is more flexible. The MPEP states:

When a compound or composition claim is not limited by a recited use, any enabled use that would reasonably correlate with the entire scope of that claim is sufficient to preclude a rejection for nonenablement based on how to use. (MPEP 2164.01(c))

This means that if the application discloses multiple uses for the claimed compounds or compositions, enabling any one of those uses is sufficient to satisfy the enablement requirement. However, if an examiner issues an enablement rejection, they must explain why the specification fails to enable each disclosed use.

To learn more:

• enablement
• compound claims
• composition claims
• multiple uses
• patent evaluation