Moderna Agrees to Pay Up to $2.25 Billion to Settle COVID-19 Vaccine Patent Dispute with Arbutus and Roivant Subsidiary Genevant

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Moderna will pay $950 million upfront in July 2026 to Arbutus Biopharma and Genevant Sciences (Roivant subsidiary) to resolve global patent litigation over lipid nanoparticle (LNP) technology in its COVID-19 vaccine123

Additional $1.3 billion may be paid depending on the outcome of a separate legal appeal, for a total potential of $2.25 billion13

The settlement includes no future royalties for Moderna's use of LNP technology in current or future vaccines, providing certainty for its infectious disease portfolio127

Announced on March 3, 2026, the deal averted a trial in Delaware federal court and led to Moderna shares rising over 10%, Arbutus up 11%12

Moderna expects to record a $950 million charge in Q1 2026 and end 2026 with $4.5-5 billion in cash237

Sources:

1. https://www.marketscreener.com/news/moderna-agrees-to-pay-up-to-2-25-billion-to-settle-covid-19-vaccine-patent-dispute-ce7e5cd2de81f327

2. https://www.morningstar.com/news/marketwatch/20260303464/modernas-stock-rallies-8-as-deal-over-a-patent-dispute-clears-vaccine-pipeline

3. https://www.law360.com/articles/2448523/moderna-to-pay-at-least-950m-to-end-covid-19-vax-ip-fight

7. https://feeds.issuerdirect.com/news-release.html?newsid=5178901572623640&symbol=MRNA