lipid nanoparticles24 Jul 2020 13:53
For years, Moderna has been battling a tiny Pennsylvania biotech over patents for a technology required to deliver its mRNA drugs and vaccines. Yesterday, a ruling came down at what might be the most inopportune time for Moderna, potentially delaying their Covid-19 vaccine or cutting into the potential profits that quintupled their stock in less than 5 months.
The US Patent and Trademark Office ruled that Arbutus Biopharma’s patents on that delivery method, known as lipid nanoparticles or LNPs, were not invalid, as Moderna had claimed.
The decision means that Arbutus could potentially stake a claim to the Covid-19 vaccine Moderna is planning to put into Phase III next week. They could do so either by filing an injunction to halt development or commercialization of the vaccine altogether — a potentially risky PR move amid a generational pandemic. Or by staking a claim for royalties — a move that, with a relatively low-margin product like vaccines, could chip at Moderna’s expected profits.