Pfizer/BioNTech, Moderna gear up for trial over vaccine patents
(Reuters) — Pfizer Inc. and its German partner BioNTech are gearing up for a 2024 trial with Moderna Inc. at London's High Court in competing patent lawsuits over their rival COVID-19 vaccines.
The case reached London's High Court for the first time for a preliminary hearing on Thursday, ahead of a trial that is due to take place in April 2024.
Pfizer and BioNTech sued Moderna in London in September, seeking to revoke two of Moderna's patents in relation to its messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccines.
Moderna brought its own lawsuit that month over Pfizer and BioNTech’s Comirnaty vaccine, seeking damages for alleged infringement of its patents.
Pfizer, BioNTech and Moderna are also engaged in litigation in Germany, the Netherlands and the United States.
Moderna’s German and U.S lawsuits, which were filed on the same day in August, both seek monetary damages. Pfizer and BioNTech are countersuing in the United States.
All three companies are also embroiled in U.S. patent disputes with other companies over the vaccines.
