By Blake Brittain
(Reuters) -British pharmaceutical big GlaxoSmithKline and rival Pfizer have agreed to finish a lawsuit that alleged Pfizer’s respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine Abrysvo violated GSK’s patent rights in its competing RSV shot Arexvy, in response to a Thursday submitting in Delaware federal courtroom.
GSK and Pfizer stated within the submitting that they might dismiss the case with prejudice, which implies it can’t be refiled. Spokespeople for the businesses didn’t instantly reply to requests for remark and extra info, together with whether or not the case was settled.
GSK, Pfizer and Moderna have developed RSV pictures authorised by the U.S. Meals and Drug Administration, with GSK’s Arexvy accountable for almost all of U.S. RSV vaccine gross sales. The respiratory illness usually causes cold-like signs, however additionally it is a number one reason behind pneumonia in toddlers and older adults.
GSK sued Pfizer in 2023, arguing that the New York-based firm’s vaccine infringed GSK patents associated to antigen expertise. GSK stated within the lawsuit that Pfizer started engaged on its RSV program round 2013, a minimum of seven years after GSK started growing its shot.
Pfizer denied the allegations and argued GSK’s patents have been invalid. It satisfied a London courtroom to invalidate associated UK patents owned by GSK in a separate case final yr.
GSK has additionally sued Pfizer for patent infringement within the U.S. over expertise in Pfizer’s blockbuster COVID-19 vaccine Comirnaty. That case continues to be ongoing.
(Reporting by Blake Brittain in Washington; Enhancing by David Bario and Sandra Maler)
