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Moderna will file a complaint against Pfizer-BioNtech. The two American biotechnology companies had both developed their own vaccine against Covid-19. Today, Moderna is convinced that Pfizer copied the patents. At the heart of this war, Messenger RNA technology.
Messenger RNA vaccines represent the great medical novelty triggered by the pandemic. Two years ago, Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech very quickly put their coronavirus vaccines into production using this technology. It allows human cells to be ordered to manufacture proteins present in the virus in order to accustom the immune system to recognize and fight it.
Messenger RNA is what allowed these companies to pocket the bet in the race for vaccines. But Moderna is now convinced that its competitor’s vaccine infringes patents filed by Moderna between 2010 and 2016, precisely on this nascent technology. ” Pfizer and BioNTech have copied this technology “, sums up the press release from Moderna.
The pharmaceutical giant Pfizer has seen its profits explode since the release of its vaccine: 22 billion dollars just for the last year. Moderna therefore seeks compensation for the continued use of its patented technologies. The biotechnology firm specifies that it is not requesting the withdrawal of the Pfizer vaccine from the market.
The company seems to want to keep control of technologies that can be used in many other contexts, Moderna stressing that it uses its platform of technologies related to messenger RNA for the development of treatments against influenza, HIV, autoimmune and cardiovascular diseases and cancers.
Pfizer and BioNTech said “ surprised by the dispute ” in a message sent to AFP on Friday, given that their vaccine against Covid-19 ” is based on BioNTech’s proprietary messenger RNA technology and has been developed by both BioNTech and Pfizer ». « It is unfortunate but rather common for other companies to allege that a successful product potentially infringes their intellectual property. “, highlighted BioNTech in a separate press release. Both companies have said they are prepared to defend themselves against the allegations in Moderna’s complaint.