Moderna is suing Pfizer and BioNTech for alleged infringement of its patents for mRNA vaccine technology, the company announced today.
“We are filing these lawsuits to protect the innovative mRNA technology platform we developed, invested billions of dollars in creating and patented during the decade leading up to the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Stéphane Bancel, CEO of Moderna. in a statement.
Moderna said in 2020 it would not enforce its patents during the pandemic to allow for an unimpeded public health response. It still has no plans to enforce patents in low- and middle-income countries, the company said in a statement. But it comes after Pfizer and BioNTech, which it said would “respect its intellectual property rights.” In the Submitthe company said: “Moderna has refrained from claiming its patents earlier so as not to distract from efforts to end the pandemic as soon as possible.”
The lawsuit should not have a major effect on vaccine availability – Moderna said in its statement that it has no intention of removing the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine, known commercially as Comirnaty, from the market. It is seeking payment, Moderna’s Chief Legal Officer, Shannon Thyme Klinger, said in the statement: “Moderna expects Pfizer and BioNTech to compensate Moderna for Comirnaty’s continued use of Moderna’s proprietary technologies.”
Moderna and Pfizer/BioNTech both developed COVID-19 vaccines using mRNA. The shots introduce tiny fragments of the coronavirus’ genetic material into the body so it can make antibodies against it.
To develop…
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