FILE PHOTO: A sign marks the headquarters of Moderna Therapeutics, which is developing a vaccine against coronavirus (COVID-19), in Cambridge, Massachusetts, US, May 18, 2020. REUTERS / Brian Snyder
(Reuters) – Modern Inc (MRNA.O) said there was a possibility that it was not the first company to make breakthroughs required in its patent applications, including those for its experimental coronavirus vaccine, according to a recent regulation.
The U.S. drug developer’s statement was made in a quarter filed Aug. 6 amid mandatory disclosures of risks to its business.
Moderna’s previous quarterly announcements with U.S. regulators did not have the revelation.
“For these and other reasons, we may not be able to secure unwanted patent rights, thereby losing exclusivity,” the company said. (bit.ly/2PISREC)
The company has received funding from the US government to develop its coronavirus vaccine, and in July lost a bid for a US patent owned by Arbutus Biopharma Corp (ABUS.O) which poses a potential obstacle to Moderna’s efforts to develop next-generation faxes.
“We can not be sure that we were the first to make the inventions claimed in our patents or in consideration of patent applications, or that we were the first to file a patent protection against such inventions, including mRNA. 1273, “said the company.
Report of Manas Mishra in Bengaluru; Edited by Shounak Dasgupta
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