Moderna sues Pfizer, BioNTech over COVID-19 vaccine patents

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(AP)- COVID-19 vaccine maker Moderna is suing its main competitors Pfizer and the German drugmaker BioNTech. It’s accusing the rivals of copying Moderna’s technology in order to make their own vaccine.

Moderna said Friday that Pfizer and BioNTech’s vaccine Comirnaty infringes on patents Moderna filed several years ago protecting the technology behind its preventive shot, Spikevax.

The company filed patent infringement lawsuits in both U.S. federal court and a German court.

A Pfizer spokeswoman says the drugmaker will vigorously defend itself against any allegations in the case.