{"id":1974,"date":"2025-03-04T15:03:12","date_gmt":"2025-03-04T15:03:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ipfray.com\/?p=1974"},"modified":"2025-03-04T15:03:12","modified_gmt":"2025-03-04T15:03:12","slug":"genevant-sciences-and-arbutus-biopharma-file-mrna-vaccine-patent-infringement-lawsuits-against-moderna-in-upc-switzerland-japan-canada","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ipfray.com\/staging1\/genevant-sciences-and-arbutus-biopharma-file-mrna-vaccine-patent-infringement-lawsuits-against-moderna-in-upc-switzerland-japan-canada\/","title":{"rendered":"Genevant Sciences and Arbutus Biopharma file mRNA vaccine patent infringement lawsuits against Moderna in UPC, Switzerland, Japan, Canada"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Context:<\/strong> In February 2022, nucleic acid delivery company Genevant Sciences<\/a> and clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company Arbutus Biopharma Corporation<\/a> sued Moderna for allegedly infringing six U.S. patents in the District of Delaware (February 28, 2022 Genevant press release<\/a>). In that suit, the companies alleged that Moderna used their \u201crevolutionary\u201d lipid nanoparticle (LNP) delivery platform \u201cwithout payment or a license\u201d \u2013 the system, they claim, was developed \u201cwith great effort and at great expense, and without which Moderna\u2019s COVID-19 vaccine would not have been successful.\u201d A jury trial in that suit is scheduled for September this year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What\u2019s new: <\/strong>Expanding on that campaign, Genevant and Arbutus yesterday filed five more lawsuits against Moderna, alleging that the company\u2019s Spikevax and mRESVIA vaccines (among others) are infringing their mRNA-related patents in 30 different countries. The companies have filed lawsuits in the Federal Court of Canada, the Tokyo District Court, Switzerland\u2019s Federal Patent Court, and the Unified Patent Court (UPC). Genevant and Arbutus are seeking monetary relief and injunctions against Moderna\u2019s infringing vaccinations in every jurisdiction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Direct impact:<\/strong> Moderna has been on the receiving end of lawsuits over its COVID-19 vaccine several times since the launch of its product \u2013 including, most recently, by GlaxoSmithKline and Northwestern University. But the company also celebrated significant wins in its European, UK and U.S. disputes in 2024, which may put it on firmer territory as it heads into this newest case.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wider ramifications:<\/strong> Genevant and Arbutus\u2019s suits are two of very few pharma patent cases at the UPC \u2013 although they join a major one filed against BioNTech\/Pfizer in January \u2013 indicating that it is still a path of uncertainty and great hesitancy for pharma patentees. If this case proceeds, the ultimate decision could have a big impact on how future UPC pharma patent infringement cases are treated.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Arbutus Biopharma is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on infectious diseases based in Pennsylvania. It is currently developing imdusiran (AB-729) for the treatment of chronic hepatitis B (cHBV). Arbutus Biopharma owns a stake in and is currently licensing LNP delivery technology from Genevant (which is a joint company with Roivant Sciences<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The patents-in-suit include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n