BioNTech Sues Moderna Over New COVID-19 Vaccine

Moderna’s new COVID-19 vaccine infringes on a patent, according to the lawsuit.

A health care worker prepares a COVID-19 vaccine in New York City, in this file photograph. Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images

BioNTech in a Feb. 19 lawsuit accused Moderna of infringing on a patent with its new COVID-19 vaccine, known as mNEXSPIKE.

BioNTech developed and patented a streamlined vaccine design that utilizes portions of the COVID-19 spike protein, rather than the full spike protein, while still inducing a strong immune response, the company said.