Last week, the USPTO announced that the popular Patents for Patients pilot program will be extended an additional two years.  Applications that qualify for the program are given “special” status with the USPTO and are fast tracked through prosecution free of charge. The USPTO implemented this program in 2016 to support the $1 billion National Cancer Moonshot Initiative. 

In view of last week’s extension, the new expiration date is June 30, 2022.  The USPTO’s announcement only concerns the expiration date; no substantive changes to the program’s requirements were announced.