Pfizer and BioNTech are being sued by US biotechnology company Moderna for violating patents that are essential to the development of their COVID-19 vaccine.
In the statement on Friday, the US pharmaceutical accused Pfizer and BioNTech of copying its “groundbreaking technology” in the development of mRNA COVID-19 vaccine without Moderna’s permission.
The lawsuit, which seeks compensation, was filed in the US district court in Massachusetts and the regional court of Dusseldorf in Germany.
“We are filing these lawsuits to protect the innovative mRNA technology platform that we pioneered, invested billions of dollars in creating, and patented during the decade preceding the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Moderna CEO Stephane Bancel.
Moderna is using its mRNA technology platform to develop medicines that could treat and prevent infectious diseases like influenza and HIV, as well as autoimmune and cardiovascular diseases and rare forms of cancer, Bancel added.
“We believe that Pfizer and BioNTech unlawfully copied Moderna’s inventions, and they have continued to use them without permission,” said Moderna Chief Legal Officer Shannon Thyme Klinger.
