Biocept wins Japanese patent for its Primer-Switch technology to detect rare mutations and cancer biomarkers

Biocept Inc (NASDAQ:BIOC), a leading commercial provider of liquid biopsy tests, said Wednesday it has won a Japanese patent for its Primer-Switch technology.  The patent provides intellectual property protection for the Primer-Switch technology, which is useful for the detection of rare mutations, including cancer biomarkers, found in tissue, blood and cerebrospinal fluid using circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) analysis through real-time PCR and associated analysis methods, including next-generation sequencing (NGS). Biocept said the patent is the third issued for the Primer-Switch technology as the company pursues worldwide patent protection for the technology.  READ: Biocept says health insurer Highmark has made a positive coverage determination on its Target Selector liquid biopsy The Primer-Switch technology provides a method for specifically enriching patient specimens for oncogene mutations of interest. Additionally, the technology can be used to enhance the performance and specificity of the PCR method, which is the most widely used amplification approach in research and molecular diagnostics, including clinical applications.  Biocept, based in San Diego, holds certain rights to the Primer-Switch technology within the field of clinical oncology. "The Primer-Switch detection and amplification platform has the potential to find rare mutations in PCR reactions, which is highly useful when there is a need to detect rare genetic events or when more precise PCR amplification reactions are desired or required," said Biocept CEO Michael Nall in a statement. "This technology builds upon the ability to detect rare genetic events which is the key target in our Target Selector ctDNA assays. We continue to expand our intellectual property portfolio to protect this method that differentiates Biocept from others in the liquid biopsy space," he added. Contact the author: patrick@proactiveinvestors.com Follow him on Twitter @PatrickMGraham