BARD1 Life Sciences (ASX:BD1) receives European patent validation for cancer tests

• BARD1 Life Sciences (BD1) has been granted European patent validations for its breast and ovarian cancer test kits
• While the patent was granted in late April, European patents are unenforceable until a given jurisdiction validates the approval
• BARD1’s tests have now been validated in France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Switzerland and the United Kingdom, providing intellectual property protection for the novel tests across much of western Europe
• BARD1’s tests, once developed, could provide faster, earlier and less invasive tests for the two cancers, which accounted for around 2.4 million cases and 800,000 deaths in 2018
• BARD1 Life Sciences is trading 6.25 per cent higher at 3.4 cents

BARD1 Life Sciences (BD1) has been granted several European patent validations for its breast and ovarian cancer test kits.

Patent protection

While the patent was granted in late April, European patents are unenforceable until a given jurisdiction validates the approval.

BARD1’s tests have now been validated in France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Switzerland and the United Kingdom, providing intellectual property protection for the novel tests across much of western Europe.

The patent application was filed on September 23, 2011, and is due to expire on September 23, 2031.

The approval means BARD1 now has protection in the two key markets — Europe and the U.S.

Early detection

BARD1’s tests are aimed at women with hereditary histories of ovarian and breast cancers. Early diagnosis of the diseases are key in improving outcomes for sufferers.

There is currently no recommended screening test for ovarian cancer, which is often diagnosed at a late stage after symptoms have occurred. The five-year survival rate for the disease is just 47 per cent.

While the statistical outcomes are better for women with breast cancer, current screening methods can cause harm through exposure to radiation, false-positive test results and overdiagnosis of benign growths.

BARD1’s tests, once developed, could provide faster, earlier and less invasive tests for the two cancers, which accounted for around 2.4 million cases and 800,000 deaths in 2018.

The granting of the patents in Europe and the U.S. provides BARD1 with security as it seeks to develop and commercialise the vital cancer tests.

BARD1 Life Sciences is trading 6.25 per cent higher at 3.4 cents as at 2:05 pm AEST.