Pfizer And BioNTech Sued By GlaxoSmithKline Over Covid-19 Vaccine Technology

Pfizer And BioNTech Sued By GlaxoSmithKline Over Covid-19 Vaccine Technology

The lawsuit adds to a web of high-stakes cases involving the companies over patent royalties for technology used in shots

GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) has filed a lawsuit against Pfizer and BioNTech in the Delaware, US, federal court, alleging infringement of its patents related to messenger RNA (mRNA) technology in the Covid-19 vaccines.

GSK claimed that the Comirnaty vaccine of Pfizer and BioNTech violated its patents developed over a decade ago, even before the pandemic’s outbreak.

However, Pfizer expressed confidence in its intellectual property (IP) position and intended to defend against the claims.

(GSK is open to licensing its patents on reasonable terms to ensure continued patient access to the vaccines).

The lawsuit adds to a web of high-stakes US court cases involving Pfizer, BioNTech and Moderna over patent royalties for technology used in their vaccines, including a case brought by Moderna against Pfizer in 2022.

London-based GSK sought unspecified monetary damages from Pfizer and BioNTech, including an ongoing patent licensing fee.

In its complaint, GSK stated that its patents covered technology for transporting fragile mRNA into human cells. The scientists began developing it in 2008 and GSK bought the rights to the inventions in 2015, when it acquired part of the vaccines business of Novartis.

Last year too, GSK sued Pfizer for patent infringement over technology used in the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine Abrysvo. In that also, Pfizer denied GSK's claims.