British drugmaker GlaxoSmithKline sued Moderna in U.S. federal court in Delaware on Tuesday, accusing its American rival of violating GSK's patent rights in messenger RNA (mRNA) technology with its blockbuster COVID-19 vaccine Spikevax.

GlaxoSmithKline is suing Moderna for allegedly using technology patented by GSK in its COVID-19 vaccine. Why it matters: It's the latest in a series of legal fights over who owns the intellectual property behind mRNA technology and whether some companies are entitled to royalties on future sales.

London: British drugmaker GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) sued Moderna in U.S. federal court in Delaware on Tuesday, accusing its American rival of violating GSK's patent rights in messenger RNA

A Moderna spokesperson said the company was aware of the new litigation and would defend itself against the claims

GlaxoSmithKline has filed lawsuits against Moderna in a Delaware federal court, alleging infringement of patents related to mRNA technology in Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine Spikevax and RSV shot mResvia.

The lawsuits claim that Moderna used and profited from crucial mRNA technology in its COVID-19 vaccine Spikevax and respiratory syncytial virus shot mResvia.

GSK filed two lawsuits at the US District of Delaware on 15 October saying that Moderna’s mRNA vaccine product Spikevax infringed up to seven patents covering lipid mRNA vaccine formulation technology. It is also suing Moderna for infringing the same mRNA technology through the sale of its recently approved RSV shot mResvia.