Moderna Faces Legal Setback: Court Bars Obviousness Defense in COVID-19 Vaccine Patent Case
A federal judge in Delaware has ruled that Moderna Inc. cannot assert an obviousness defense in a patent infringement lawsuit concerning its COVID-19 vaccine, Spikevax. The decision, issued on February 17, 2026, stems from Moderna’s prior use of the same defense in related proceedings before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB). The lawsuit, initiated…