Extension of the Cancer Immunotherapy Pilot Program

On June 29, 2016, the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) implemented the Cancer Immunotherapy Pilot Program, which permits patent applications pertaining to cancer immunotherapy to be advanced out of turn for examination and reviewed earlier (accorded special status). To date, over 80 petitions requesting participation in the pilot program have been filed, and 9 patents have been granted under the pilot program. Various stakeholders from around the world have filed petitions to participate in the pilot program--they are independent inventors, universities, research institutions, hospitals, medical centers, government agencies, and large and small companies. The pilot program was originally scheduled to end on June 28, 2017. In view of the continued interest in the pilot program, the USPTO is extending the pilot program until December 31, 2018. All pilot parameters will remain the same as the original pilot.