Arbutus and licensee Genevant Sciences filed patent infringement claims against BioNTech and Pfizer at the Unified Patent Court in The Hague. The lawsuit targets mRNA technology used in the Comirnaty COVID-19 vaccine.
The plaintiffs are seeking monetary relief and injunctions against the vaccine. This action broadens the existing global legal dispute over mRNA intellectual property.
Arbutus and Genevant reached a multi-billion dollar settlement with Moderna in March 2026 over similar patent claims. That outcome highlights the potential financial exposure for BioNTech and Pfizer in this new litigation.