German court rules Pfizer, BioNTech violated Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine patent

DUESSELDORF, Germany (Reuters) -A German tribunal connected Wednesday ruled that Pfizer and its spouse BioNTech violated a COVID-19 vaccine patent held by Moderna.

In a statement, the tribunal successful the metropolis of Duesseldorf said that Pfizer and BioNTech would person to supply accusation connected net derived from the usage of the patent and that they beryllium Moderna due compensation, though the ruling tin inactive beryllium appealed to a higher court.

The tribunal added that Pfizer and BioNTech had argued they were authorised by a property merchandise from Moderna to usage the exertion down the patent until the World Health Organization declared successful May 2023 that COVID-19 was nary longer a planetary wellness emergency.

The tribunal told Reuters it had not ruled connected the magnitude to beryllium paid, which would beryllium connected further ineligible proceedings and immoderate appeal.

(Reporting by Matthias Inverardi, penning by Ludwig Burger, editing by Thomas Escritt and Thomas Seythal)