Sanofi filed patent infringement lawsuits against Pfizer and Moderna in New Jersey federal court. The French drugmaker claims their COVID-19 vaccines use messenger RNA (mRNA) technology patented by a Sanofi subsidiary.
The lawsuits focus on lipid nanoparticle (LNP) delivery technology. Sanofi acquired these patents through its $3.2 billion purchase of Translate Bio in 2021.
The complaint targets Pfizer’s Comirnaty alongside Moderna’s Spikevax, mNexspike, and mResvia vaccines. Sanofi seeks financial compensation for the technology use but does not demand a halt to vaccine sales.
This legal action expands a complex web of patent litigation among pharmaceutical giants over pandemic-era mRNA technology.