German biotechnology company CureVac SE has informed a Virginia federal judge of a settlement reached to resolve the lawsuit slapped on it by Acuitas Therapeutics Inc. The lawsuit revolved around the argument of inventorship credit on patents that focus on lipid nanoparticle technology. This technology played a pivotal role in the development of the renowned Pfizer and BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine.
While the details of the settlement have not been publicized, the resolution signifies a major attorneyship dispute involving two key players in the global healthcare industry against the backdrop of the ongoing pandemic. The nanoparticle technology in question, which encapsulates the mRNA in the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, had been a bone of contention in the lawsuit.
CureVac SE is a Tübingen-based biopharmaceutical company specializing in mRNA technology, similar to Pfizer-BioNTech’s technology. On the other hand, Acuitas Therapeutics, based in British Columbia, also focuses on DNA and RNA therapeutics delivery.
For legal professionals interested in further nuances of the case, the original lawsuit documentation is accessible here.