The American Moderna is suing the also American Pfizer and the latter’s German partner, BioNTech, for violating technology patent laws regarding the mRNA platform, through which the two companies’ vaccine against Covid-19 was made.
The suit is expected to be filed on Friday in a US court in Massachusetts and in a district court in Dusseldorf, Germany.
“This groundbreaking technology was also central to the production of Moderna’s Covid-19 vaccine, Spikevax,” the company said in a statement.
“Pfizer and BioNTech copied the technology without Moderna’s approval in order to make the Comirnaty vaccine,” the statement added.
Moderna CEO Stéphane Bancel said the company is trying to protect a technology that cost billions of dollars in investment in the decade before the pandemic.
Moderna had stated in 2020 that it would not proceed with patenting while the pandemic continued, however it has now updated its stance.
It goes on to note that it will not seek patenting of the vaccines in 92 low- and middle-income states, but expects Pfizer and BioNTech to respect its technological breakthroughs. Moderna’s stock was down 0.4% in online premarket trading.
Source: Capital
I am Derek Black, an author of World Stock Market. I have a degree in creative writing and journalism from the University of Central Florida. I have a passion for writing and informing the public. I strive to be accurate and fair in my reporting, and to provide a voice for those who may not otherwise be heard.