Pfizer, BioNTech lose UK appeal to overturn Moderna's COVID vaccine patent win

Pfizer and BioNTech's Appeal Against Moderna Patent Ruling Denied

LONDON (Reuters) -Pfizer and its German partner BioNTech on Friday lost their bid to overturn a ruling that their COVID-19 vaccine infringed one of Moderna's patents at London's Court of Appeal.

Last year, the High Court ruled that one of Moderna's patents relating to the messenger RNA (mRNA) technology which underpinned its COVID-19 vaccine was valid and that Pfizer and BioNTech's Comirnaty vaccine had infringed it, meaning Moderna is entitled to damages in relation to sales after March 2022.

Pfizer and Moderna had appealed to try to overturn that decision, arguing Moderna's developments of mRNA technology were obvious developments of previous work, rendering the patent invalid.

(Reporting by Sam Tobin; Editing by Catarina Demony)