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CureVac sues Moderna over mRNA vaccine tech
25 Apr
Summary
- CureVac claims Moderna copied its patented mRNA stabilization technology.
- CureVac seeks royalties for Moderna's Spikevax COVID-19 vaccine sales.
- This lawsuit is part of a larger trend of biopharma patent disputes.
CureVac, a German biotechnology company, has filed a patent infringement lawsuit against Moderna in Delaware federal court. The suit, initiated on Friday, April 24, alleges that Moderna's Spikevax COVID-19 vaccine improperly utilized CureVac's patented messenger RNA (mRNA) technology.
Specifically, CureVac contends that Moderna copied its proprietary methods for stabilizing the delicate mRNA molecules, which are crucial for vaccine efficacy. The company is demanding royalties from the sales of Spikevax and seeking damages for the alleged patent violations.
This legal battle is part of a broader wave of litigation within the biopharmaceutical sector, as companies vie for compensation related to the groundbreaking mRNA vaccine technology. Notably, BioNTech, which acquired CureVac last year, is also involved in separate patent litigation against Moderna concerning different COVID-19 vaccine technology.
Moderna, in response, stated that it is aware of the lawsuit and intends to defend itself against the claims. Previous patent infringement lawsuits have been filed by companies like Moderna against BioNTech and Pfizer, as well as by other firms such as GlaxoSmithKline and Bayer, highlighting the intense competition and legal scrutiny surrounding COVID-19 vaccine revenues.
