Moderna said it is suing Pfizer and its German partner BioNTech for patent infringement linked to the development of the first Covid 19 vaccines, rep
Moderna said it is suing Pfizer and its German partner BioNTech for patent infringement linked to the development of the first Covid 19 vaccines, reported BBC. The US biotech company is alleging that mRNA technology it developed before the pandemic was copied. The lawsuit, which is seeking unspecified financial damages, was filed in the US and Germany. Pfizer said it was “surprised” by the action and would “vigorously defend” itself against the allegations. In a statement, Moderna said Pfizer/BioNTech copied two key elements of its intellectual property. One involves a “chemical modification” which Moderna says its scientists were the first to demonstrate in human trials in 2015, and means the vaccine “avoids provoking an undesirable immune response”. The second alleged infringement is related to the way both vaccines target the distinctive spike protein on the outside of the virus. “We are filing these lawsuits to protect the innovative mRNA technology platform that we pioneered, invested billions of dollars in creating, and patented during the decade preceding the Covid 19 pandemic,” Moderna chief executive Stephane Bancel said, reported BBC.
Moderna, which was only formed as a company in 2010, was an early developer of the mRNA technology used commercially for the first time in Covid vaccines. The jabs use a molecule of genetic code called messenger RNA to generate an immune response. That trains the body to fight off the real virus when it comes into contact with it. Early in the pandemic, Moderna said it would not enforce its patents to help other drug companies develop their own jabs, particularly for low-and middle-income countries. In March 2022 it said rivals such as Pfizer and BioNTech would have to respect its intellectual property rights in some higher-income countries, though it would not claim damages for activity before that date, as reported by BBC.
Watch against contagion
In the last 24 hours 406 new cases of contagion and 0 deaths caused by Covid 19 were reported by State and Health Authorities. Contagion is being watched in Guanajuato and cases of contagion reported are over 400 in the last 24 hours, while there were 0 deaths reported. Authorities maintain the color of activities in the GREEN easing restrictions on activities, both leisure and work.
State Health Authorities insist that Guanajuato should maintain health protection.
For more information call:
- 800 004 4800 and
- 800 627 2583
Or visit:
- https://coronavirus.guanajuato.gob.mx/
- reactivemosgto.guanajuato.gob.mx
