Moderna Agrees to $950 Million Settlement to End Global Patent Litigation

Cambridge, Tuesday, 3 March 2026.
In a significant move to clear its legal horizon, Moderna has agreed to pay $950 million to Arbutus Biopharma and Genevant Sciences, resolving worldwide disputes over the lipid nanoparticle technology used in its COVID-19 vaccines. While the deal eliminates future royalties, the total payout could swell by an additional $1.3 billion depending on the outcome of a federal appeal regarding government-contractor liability, potentially marking one of the largest patent settlements in pharmaceutical history.