Genevant Sciences and Arbutus Biopharma Initiate International Patent Infringement Enforcement Actions Against Moderna

Core Viewpoint - Genevant Sciences and Arbutus Biopharma have filed five international lawsuits against Moderna, seeking to enforce patents related to their lipid nanoparticle (LNP) technology, alleging infringement in 30 countries [1][2]. Group 1: Legal Actions - The lawsuits aim to obtain monetary relief and injunctions against Moderna's Spikevax and other products that allegedly utilize the same LNP technology [2]. - The enforcement actions cover multiple jurisdictions, including Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and Turkey, among others [3]. - In addition to international lawsuits, there is an ongoing case in the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware, with a jury trial scheduled for September 2025 [4]. Group 2: Technology Background - The LNP technology developed by Arbutus and Genevant is crucial for the effective delivery of mRNA to human cells, addressing significant technological challenges in mRNA medicine development [5]. - This technology involves microscopic particles made from four types of fat-like molecules, which protect mRNA and facilitate its delivery to target cells [5]. - Genevant has over 20 years of experience in LNP delivery technology, which has been licensed for various applications, including vaccines and gene editing [6]. Group 3: Company Profiles - Genevant Sciences is recognized for its robust LNP patent portfolio and has pioneered LNP delivery for over two decades, enabling a wide range of RNA-based applications [6]. - Arbutus Biopharma focuses on infectious diseases and is developing treatments for chronic hepatitis B, while also leveraging its partnership with Genevant to maximize the potential of LNP technology [8].