Moderna Sues Pfizer, BioNTech for Use of mRNA Technology in COVID Vaccines—Pfizer Responds

Moderna is suing Pfizer and BioNTech to use the mRNA technology to develop a COVID-19 vaccine for the world, with the dose already in massive distribution and use for all that needs it. The new lawsuit comes after more than a year after Pfizer and BioNTech's development of the vaccine, something which they completed towards the end of 2020.

Moderna is Suing Pfizer, BioNTech for mRNA use on COVID Vaccines

According to an announcement by Moderna, the company is seeking legal actions against Pfizer and BioNTech in both the United States and Germany courts for its infringement of patents by the Cambridge-based pharmaceutical company. The company aims to remove the Pfizer and BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine, Comirnaty®, from the market.

Moderna also files an injunction for future sales of the Pfizer and BioNTech mRNA COVID vaccine in the market, bringing a significant problem for its distribution to the world.

The company claimed that Pfizer and BioNTech copied the mRNA technology and used it without their permission for the development of Comirnaty®, which became an effective vaccine during the pandemic and the present.

Moderna's mRNA Technology Patents Date to 2010

Moderna further claims that its use of mRNA technology should need permission from them, with its filed patents dating back to 2010 towards 2016, a long time before its experimental use in 2020.

According to CNET's report, Pfizer gave their comments on the case, saying that they were "surprised" by the suit as it did not copy anything from other companies. Pfizer claims that the mRNA technology it used is owned by BioNTech, further developing it together for its application for the coronavirus.

COVID-19 Vaccines using mRNA Technology

Vaccines would not complete as fast as they did for the pandemic that erupted in 2020 if it were not for the swift actions of the many pharmaceutical companies in the world. Two companies, including Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech, brought a highly-effective shot that borders on an experimental technology known as the messenger ribonucleic acid or mRNA.

Its speedy delivery and effective dose helped the world regain its footing in the many industries that suffered due to the virus' emergence, something which left the world on pause for more than a year. Still, experts think that the future of vaccines and medical technology lies in mRNA's use, something which proved to be a significant component for modern applications.

Moderna is a company that has long-experimented the use of mRNA for its medicine technology, giving the world a significant boost not only for COVID-19 but also for its focus on HIV vaccines.

Now, it is asserting its ownership of the mRNA technology against a rival company that brought an effective vaccine that some experts claim to be the most effective shot against the virus at present. Moderna is taking the case to litigators and seeks to have Pfizer and BioNTech answer for their alleged misuse of its patent.

This article is owned by TechTimes

Written by Isaiah Richard