The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) announced the Cancer Moonshot Expedited Examination Pilot Program, which was first implemented on June 29, 2016, and is now coming back into play beginning on February 1, 2023. The program aims to expedite the examination of patent applications related to cancer research and treatments.

Under the pilot program, applicants who qualify can have their patent applications reviewed more quickly, potentially reducing the time it takes to get new cancer treatments and technologies to market. To qualify, the applicant must demonstrate that their invention is directed to the diagnosis, cure, or prevention of cancer or the production of a drug or biologic used to treat cancer. Applicants must satisfy specific requirements, including that the invention must treat cancer using immunotherapy and that the application must be a non-provisional utility or plant patent application.

The Cancer Moonshot is a national initiative launched by President Joe Biden in 2016 to accelerate cancer research and make more therapies available to patients. The USPTO’s pilot program is one of several initiatives launched as part of the Cancer Moonshot.

While the pilot program was initially set to run for one year, it has since been extended. During this time, the USPTO will collect data on the program’s effectiveness and decide whether to make it a permanent part of the patent examination process.

This initiative is a significant step towards promoting innovation and research in the field of cancer immunotherapy and is expected to attract a high number of applicants seeking fast-track patent protection for their cancer-related inventions.

Are you trying to expedite your cancer research or treatment patent application? Then reach out to us to find out if you qualify for this helpful program.