Moderna faces $5 billion mRNA patent lawsuit after 'Star Trek' ruling

Behind the household COVID-19 name, Moderna, is facing a $5 billion patent-infringement lawsuit over vaccine technology. On February 2, 2026, U.S. District Judge Joshua D. Wolson denied Moderna’s request for summary judgment, saying the jury will have the choice whether Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine, Spikevax, breached on ‘lipid nanoparticle (LNP) technology’ originally patented by Genevant Sciences and Arbutus Biopharma. Judge Wolson used a “Star Trek” metaphor, saying that even with the US Government’s “ ...