Moderna Loses European COVID Vaccine Patent in Dispute With Pfizer, BioNTech

Moderna and BioNTech are fighting series of court battles over patents of the mRNA technologies they used to develop the jabs.

Pfizer and Moderna bivalent COVID-19 vaccines are readied for use at a clinic in Richmond, Va., on Nov. 17, 2022. Steve Helber/AP Photo

The European Patent Office has invalidated one of Moderna’s patents for its mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccine, handing a win to the vaccine giant’s German competitor, BioNTech.

The patent in question, listed as EP3718565 in the European Patent Register, protects “respiratory virus vaccines,” according to its listing. Those opposing the patent include BioNTech, its partner Pfizer, and French pharmaceutical company Sanofi.