Immunovia has filed a provisional patent application in the US to protect its test designed to detect stage I and II pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC).

The patent application encompasses methods of diagnosing PDAC using a unique combination of five specific biomarkers and the process for interpreting these biomarkers to deliver test results.

The application was submitted to the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), marking the first step in commercialising the company's new test in the country.

Immunovia anticipates submitting additional clinical data to the USPTO in the coming months to strengthen its patent claim.

Furthermore, the company intends to file a single Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) application within the next year.

This strategic move would allow the company to seek broad international patent protection for its invention simultaneously in numerous countries.

After this, Immunovia will target patents in specific high-value commercial markets outside the US.

Immunovia earlier announced the completion of its next-generation test for detecting stage 1 and 2 pancreatic cancer.

The company plans to undertake a large, independent clinical validation study to verify the test's accuracy, in the fourth quarter of 2024.

If successful, Immunovia intends to launch the new test next year in the US.

Immunovia CEO Jeff Borcherding said: “Our scientists have invented a breakthrough approach to detecting pancreatic cancer and it’s vital we protect that invention.”

Immunovia is engaged in the development and commercialisation of simple blood-based testing to detect antibodies and proteins that indicate a high-risk individual has developed pancreatic cancer.