Moderna sued Pfizer and BioNTech SE, alleging that its Covid-19 shot technology infringed its patents.
Oderna accused Pfizer and BioNTech of infringing intellectual property on key elements of its messenger RNA technology in developing the Comirnaty vaccine. Cambridge, Massachusetts-based Moderna held a patent on the mRNA technology that enabled the Spikevax shot from 2010 to 2016, but said his two other companies copied the technology without permission. .
According to a lawsuit filed in the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts, Pfizer and BioNTech “incorporated four different candidates into clinical trials, including the innovative option for Moderna that uses unmodified mRNA.” rice field”. “But in the end, Pfizer and BioNtech scrapped those alternatives and copied Moderna’s patented technology.”
Moderna said it is also suing in Germany. Pfizer and her BioNTech have not fully reviewed the US complaint, but are “surprised” by the lawsuit and plan to “defend vigorously,” according to an emailed statement.
Pfizer shares fell 1.1 percent at 10:31 am in New York, while BioNTech’s American Depositary Receipts fell 2.3 percent. Moderna shares fell 1.7%.
Moderna’s lawsuit against Pfizer-BioNTech is not surprising given the extensive US patents directed at its mRNA technology. If Moderna is successful, Pfizer-Biontech could be responsible for paying at least mid-single-digit royalties on past and future Covid vaccine sales.
Moderna said it is not asking the court to remove Pfizer and Biontech’s Covid vaccines from the market or block future sales. The company said this year he is seeking damages for the period beginning March 8 and will not seek damages for Pfizer’s sales to 92 low- and middle-income countries.
