(Reuters) – Pfizer /BioNTech and Moderna have been hit with patent lawsuits by other companies related to their COVID-19 vaccines.
In the latest turn of events, the two mRNA vaccine makers are locking horns, with Moderna suing Pfizer and its German partner BioNTech for patent infringement in their race to develop the shot approved in the United States.
Moderna on Friday alleged that they copied a technology that it had developed years before the pandemic.
The following is a list of the lawsuits filed against these companies:
Company/companies Company/companies Date of lawsuit Details Lawsuit filed with
facing lawsuit filing lawsuit
Pfizer/BioNTech Moderna Aug. 26, 2022 Moderna alleges Pfizer/BioNTech, without permission, U.S. District Court in Massachusetts
copied mRNA technology that Moderna had patented between
2010 and 2016
Pfizer/BioNTech CureVac July 5, 2022 CureVac seeks compensation from Pfizer and BioNTech German Regional Court in Düsseldorf
without impeding the production, sale or distribution of
the vaccine.Pfizer and BioNTech in July seek judgment
from a U.S. court that they did not infringe the patents
held by CureVac. U.S. District Court in Massachusetts
Pfizer and Moderna Alnylam March 17, 2022 Alnylam Pharma seeks damages over the use of its lipid Delaware federal court
Pharmaceuticals nanoparticle technology.
Moderna Arbutus Biopharma Feb. 28, 2022 Arbutus and Genevant Sciences say they were not seeking Delaware federal court
Corp/ Genevant to block Moderna from producing or distributing the
Sciences vaccines, and asked for money damages including a
reasonable royalty on vaccine sales.
Pfizer’s Canadian partner Acuitas Therapeutics in March Manhattan federal court
sues Arbutus, seeking to head off the patent infringement
lawsuit.
Pfizer/BioNTech Allele Biotechnology Oct. 5, 2020 Allele alleged PFE and BNTX used its patented fluorescent United States District Court, Southern District
and Pharmaceuticals protein without permission in developing their vaccines. of California
The patent dispute was resolved in Jan. 2022. (https://reut.rs/3RbMW8H)
(Compiled by Raghav Mahobe, Khushi Mandowara and Amruta Khandekar in Bengaluru; Editing by Ankur Banerjee and Arun Koyyur)
