GSK, Pfizer Lock Horns Over Patent Fight Related To Respiratory Syncytial Virus Vaccine

GSK Plc GSK has sued Pfizer Inc PFE in Delaware court, alleging that Pfizer's respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine Abrysvo violates GSK's four patent rights in its RSV shot Arexvy.

The FDA approved both vaccines in May for use in adults over the age of 60. They are the first vaccines approved to prevent RSV.

Pfizer and GSK are running a tight race to tap into the RSV vaccine market, which could exceed $10 billion by 2030.

The vaccines are part of both companies' strategies to replace aging drugs that will face cheaper generic competition.

Citing A GSK spokesperson, Reuters noted that intellectual property protections are the "foundation of research-based companies' ability to drive innovation" and that the lawsuit should not affect GSK's ability to launch Arexvy.

In the lawsuit, GSK said that Pfizer began working on its RSV program as early as 2013, at least seven years after GSK.

The European pharma giant also says that Pfizer knew of at least the ’002 Patent (which is entitled Recombinant RSV Antigens) since at least October 2019, when Pfizer filed an opposition in the European Patent Office claiming that a European counterpart to the ’002 Patent is invalid. 

In June 2022, Pfizer also filed an action against GSK in the Royal Courts of Justice in London, claiming that European counterparts to the ’002 and ’239 Patents (RSV F Protein Compositions and Methods for Making Same) are invalid. 

The lawsuit said Pfizer knew of GSK's patented technology since at least 2019 when it began challenging the validity of European versions of the patents.

Price Action: PFE shares are down 0.17% at $35.55, and GSK shares are down 0.83% at $34.64 on the last check Wednesday.