The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has issued US Patent 9,753,036 to EDP Biotech Corp, Knoxville, Tenn, covering methods and compositions for the screening and detection of colorectal cancer. The company’s first US patent, the milestone puts EDP Biotech in position to finalize development and commercialization of ColoMarker, a blood-based diagnostic assay for the detection of early-stage colorectal cancer.
“Receiving our US patent is an important milestone for EDP Biotech’s intellectual property portfolio,” says Eric Mayer, CEO of EDP Biotech. “We are pleased to receive this news from the USPTO, which will provide EDP Biotech the protection it needs when we begin commercializing the new ColoMarker blood-based biomarker assay for the detection of early-stage colorectal cancer. This patent is the result of our ongoing commitment to research and development and will motivate us to continue the search for innovate biomarkers.”
Eric Mayer, EDP Biotech.
International patent applications corresponding to the US patent have also been filed, and trademark rights have been secured for ColoMarker.
EDP Biotech has been involved in research and development for innovative diagnostic tests since 2005. Its primary technology, the CE-marked ColoMarker assay, has demonstrated utility for the detection of early-stage colorectal cancer and high-risk polyps in early preclinical research.
According to the US Preventive Services Task Force, routine colonoscopy is the currently best way to detect colon cancer and high-risk polyps. Unfortunately, many people are not complaint with this recommendation. A simple blood test will be a welcomed option to the stool and DNA tests currently available in the US for detecting possible colon cancer and high-risk polyps.
According to the American Cancer Society, colorectal cancer is the third most commonly diagnosed cancer in both men and women. In 2017, the society estimates, 135,430 people will be diagnosed with colorectal cancer, resulting in more than 50,000 deaths. However, colon cancer is one of the most treatable cancers; if detected early, the 5-year survival rate is nearly 90%.
For more information, visit EDP Biotech.
