Moderna is suing US pharmaceutical giant Pfizer and its German partner BioNTech for patent infringement on its Covid-19 vaccine.
U.S. vaccine maker says it has filed patent infringement lawsuits in the U.S. District Court in Massachusetts and Düsseldorf, Germany, alleging it “copied technology without Moderna’s permission” developed years before the pandemic. did.
Moderna added that it has no intention of removing Pfizer and Biontech’s vaccine, Comminati, from the market or blocking future sales.
Stephane Bansel, CEO of Moderna, said:
“With this foundational platform, which we started building in 2010, and our patented research on coronavirus in 2015 and 2016, we will be able to create a safe and highly effective Covid-19 in record time after the pandemic hits. We were able to manufacture 19 vaccines.
“As we tackle advancing health challenges, Moderna is using our mRNA technology platform to fight infectious diseases such as influenza and HIV, autoimmune diseases, cardiovascular disease, and rare forms of cancer. We are developing medicines that can treat and prevent.”
Shannon Thyme-Klinger, the company’s chief legal officer, added:
“Outside of the AMC 92 countries where vaccine supply is no longer a barrier to access, Moderna expects Pfizer and BioNTech to compensate Moderna for the continued use of Moderna’s patented technology by the Comminati.
“Our mission to create a new generation of innovative medicines for patients by realizing the promise of mRNA science cannot be achieved without a patent system that rewards and protects innovation.”
A Pfizer spokesperson said:
“We are confident in the intellectual property that supports the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine and will vigorously defend against allegations of litigation.”
