Moderna, Pfizer and BioNTech Covid vaccine patent dispute heads to 2024 trial

US firm Moderna is suing American competitor Pfizer and its German-partner BioNTech for alleged patent infringement in relation to their Comirnaty vaccine, arguing it is due compensation for products manufactured after March 7 last year

Moderna is suing Pfizer and its German-partner BioNTech for alleged patent infringement in relation to their Comirnaty vaccine (Kirsty O’Connor/PA)

A battle between rival developers of Covid-19 jabs over patents for vaccine technology is set to be heard in the UK's High Court in London next year.

Pharmaceutical giant Pfizer and drug manufacturer BioNTech are locked in a dispute with vaccine maker Moderna over the use of messenger RNA (mRNA) technology in coronavirus jabs, with similar litigation taking place in the US, Germany and the Netherlands.