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 500 petitions requesting participation in the pilot program have been filed, and 167 patents have been granted under the pilot program. In view of the continued interest in the program, the USPTO is extending it until June 30, 2022. All parameters will remain the same as in the original pilot.
The Cancer Immunotherapy Pilot Program will continue to run until June 30, 2022. Therefore, petitions to make special under the Cancer Immunotherapy Pilot Program must be filed on or before June 30, 2022. In addition, any petition to make special under the Cancer Immunotherapy Pilot Program filed between June 30, 2020, and the publication date of this notice will be considered timely. The USPTO may further extend the pilot program (with or without modifications) or terminate it, depending on feedback received, continued interest, and the effectiveness of the pilot program.
Read the official notice here.
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