MRna, billionaire lawsuit for the technology behind Covid-19 vaccines

Moderna sued Pfizer and its German partner Biontech on charges of copying the mRna technologywhich was then the basis of the Covid-19 vaccines and that was it patented and filed by Moderna between 2010 and 2016. The US pharmaceutical giant has filed an appeal in the US district court in Massachusetts and the regional court in Düsseldorf, seeking damages from rivals for their alleged infringement of several patents.

“We are taking these lawsuits to protect the innovative mRna technology platform we have developed and created we have invested billions of dollarspatenting it in the decade preceding the Covid-19 pandemic “, stated a Reuters Stephane Bancel, CEO of Moderna. “We believe Pfizer and Biontech illegally copied Moderna’s inventions and have continued to use them without authorization “, added Shannon Thyme Klinger, Moderna’s legal representative.

Despite the cause, Moderna has made it known that it does not intend to stop the distribution of the Pfizer-Biontech vaccine or to obtain an injunction against future sales, for the important role it plays in fighting the pandemic. However, he has stated that he expects rivals such as Pfizer or Biontech to respect his intellectual property.

Moderna also stressed that he wanted to take action against Pfizer and Biontech only in relation to vaccine sales recorded after 8 March 2022, in line with the previous commitment not to enforce its patents while the pandemic was in its most critical phase. While not will seek compensation for vaccine sales to 92 low-income countries or for any donation or sale made by the US government directly or indirectly.

Moderna’s decision to sue its main rivals marked an escalation of the battle over the intellectual property of the mRna technique. Previously some smaller companies, such as the US Alnylamthey already have sued Pfizer, Biontech and Moderna itself for violation of some patents. According to Financial Timesthe stakes of this game would be very high, as Pfizer, Biontech and Moderna are expected to register approximately 52 billion dollars in revenues from the sale of mRna-based vaccines by the end of the year.