Cancer-related innovation and U.S. patent applications

Cancer therapies bring hope to the suffering and dying patient. However, cancer research is complex and expensive. In addition, cancer is not just one disease but many. Each with its characteristics, risk factors, causes, and treatments—currently, 35 U.S. Code § 103 (obviousness) rejections are a rate-limiting step for acquiring a patent. Unfortunately, rejecting novel cancer-related patent applications based on obviousness inhibits funding for much-needed drug development and research.