EXACT Sciences gets patent

EXACT Sciences Corp., a Marlborough life sciences company, said that a US patent was issued that covers part of its non-invasive colon-cancer screening process.

The issued patent, expiring in 2024, "covers the use of differentially methylated vimentin as a marker for the detection of colon cancer," said the company, which added that "studies have demonstrated that methylation of vimentin DNA is associated with the presence of colorectal cancer."

Through its license agreement with Case Western Reserve University, the company has exclusive worldwide rights to the vimentin gene technology for non-invasive stool-based detection of colorectal cancer and pre-malignant colorectal polyps.

To read the company's press release, please click here. To read some previous coverage of the company, please click here.
(By Chris Reidy, Globe staff)