CureVac files patent lawsuit in Germany against BioNTech

A dose of CureVac vaccine or a placebo is seen throughout a examine by the German biotech agency CureVac as a part of a testing for a brand new vaccine in opposition to the coronavirus illness (COVID-19), in Brussels, Belgium March 2, 2021. REUTERS/Yves Herman/File Photograph

BERLIN, July 5 (Reuters) – CureVac (5CV.DE) has filed a patent lawsuit in Germany in opposition to BioNTech (22UAy.DE) over its use of mRNA know-how, marking one of many first recognized instances of an organization going to court docket amid the fierce competitors to develop a vaccine in opposition to the coronavirus.

The German-based firm is in search of “truthful compensation” from BioNTech and two subsidiaries for infringement of its mental property rights, it stated on Tuesday.

CureVac stated that its declare to mental property rights was primarily based on greater than 20 years of labor on mRNA know-how that was utilized by BioNTech and Pfizer (PFE.N) for the event and sale of their Comirnaty coronavirus vaccine.

Nonetheless, CureVac stated that it was not in search of an injunction, nor does it intend to take authorized motion that might impede the manufacturing, sale or distribution of the vaccine.

“On the peak of the pandemic, it might not have occurred to any of us to level out patent infringement. Now that there’s higher management over the pandemic, we imagine it’s the proper time to take action,” a spokesperson for CureVac stated.

BioNTech declined to remark when contacted by Reuters.

The COVID-19 pandemic, which started in China, has killed greater than 6.3 million folks and spurred a race amongst pharmaceutical firms to be the primary to develop a vaccine, with BioNTech and Pfizer coming to dominate the sector.

After failed efforts to convey a COVID-19 vaccine to market final 12 months, CureVac intensified its work with companion GlaxoSmithKline (GSK.L) on improved variations of vaccine.

CureVac and GSK stated in April that their second-generation vaccine candidate focusing on two latest COVID-19 variants had been proven to be extremely efficient in pre-clinical research on mice. learn extra

German-listed CureVac’s shares prolonged positive aspects after the information, rising 2.5% at 13.90 euros at 1245 GMT.

BioNTech shares had been down 3.65% at 145.25 euros.

The court docket in Duesseldorf, the place CureVac submitted its lawsuit, declined to remark.

Reporting by Patricia Weiss; writing by Miranda Murray; modifying by Paul Carrel, Jason Neely and Barbara Lewis

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