Moderna said it is suing Pfizer and BioNTech for patent infringement linked to the development of the first COVID-19 vaccines. The biotech company based in the United States is alleging that mRNA technology, which Moderna developed before the COVID-19 pandemic, was copied.
The lawsuit, which is seeking unspecified financial damages, was filed in the United States and Germany. Pfizer said that it was surprised by the action, and would vigorously defend itself against all the allegations.
Pfizer said that it was surprised by the action, and would vigorously defend itself against all the allegations. Moderna said that Pfizer and BioNTech had copied two key elements of the intellectual property.
This involves a chemical modification that Moderna says its scientists have been the first to demonstrate in human trials in 2015, and means that the vaccine avoids provoking an undesirable immune response.
The second alleged infringement is also related to the way in which both COVID-19 vaccines target the distinctive spike protein on the outside of the COVID-19 virus.
Stephane Bancel, chief executive of Moderna, said they are filing these lawsuits to protect the innovative mRNA technology platform that they pioneered, patented, and invested billions of dollars in creating during the COVID-19 pandemic.
