Legal

Pharma patent row to unfold in Irish court as Moderna launches legal action against Pfizer and BioNTech

Alleged patent infringement actions concerning the development of Covid-19 vaccines have been commenced by Moderna in the US, Germany, the UK, the Netherlands, Belgium, and now Ireland

Moderna: Biotech firm asserts that its work led it to develop an mRNA-based vaccine for Covid-19 within days of the genetic sequencing of the virus becoming available. Picture: Getty

Moderna has launched High Court proceedings against Pfizer and BioNTech, adding Ireland to a list of countries in which patent litigation is set to unfold.

The nature of the lawsuit concerns alleged patent infringement of Moderna’s technology in the development of Covid-19 vaccines, and specifically in relation to the development of mRNA technology.

Moderna asserts that its work led it to develop an mRNA-based vaccine for Covid-19 within days of the genetic sequencing of the ...