Arbutus Biopharma Corporation, a biopharmaceutical company, engages in the discovery, development, and commercialization of a cure for patients suffering from chronic Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in the United States. Its HBV product pipeline consists of AB-836, a capsid inhibitor that has the potential to inhibit HBV replication by preventing the assembly of functional viral capsids; and AB-423, which is in pre-clinical studies. The company also develops RNAi drugs, which utilize the RNA interference pathway, allows for a novel approach to treating disease. Its RNAi HBV candidates are designed to reduce hepatitis B surface antigen expression in patients chronically infected with HBV. In addition, it develops AB-729, a second generation RNAi therapeutic targeted to hepatocytes; HBV RNA destabilizer, an orally active agent that cause the destabilization of HBV RNAs, which leads to RNA degradation and to reduction in HBsAg levels. Further, the company engages conducting a Phase 1a/1b clinical trial and several pre-clinical and investigational new drug-enabling studies to evaluate proprietary HBV therapeutic agents, together with standard of care therapies, and in combination with each other. It has strategic alliance, licensing, and research collaboration agreements with Marqibo; Gritstone Oncology, Inc.; and Acuitas Therapeutics, Inc. The company was formerly known as Tekmira Pharmaceuticals Corporation and changed its name to Arbutus Biopharma Corporation in July 2015. Arbutus Biopharma Corporation is headquartered in Warminster, Pennsylvania.
AFTER HOURS BREAKING NEWS
Moderna stock tumbled late Thursday after the biotech lost a patent battle that may jeopardize the financial future of its coronavirus vaccine.
Moderna (MRNA) challenged patents held by Arbutus Biopharma (ABUS) covering lipid nanoparticle, or LNP, technology. Lipid nanoparticles are the delivery system for messenger RNA drugs, including Moderna's coronavirus vaccine, which is known as mRNA-1273.
Despite the company's contention, the ruling could cut into profits on any Moderna drug, including mRNA-1273, says SVB Leerink analyst Mani Foroohar.
"Revenue concentration in (the coronavirus vaccine) is a central feature of the investment case for Moderna shares," Foroohar said. "Any meaningful royalty burden could hamper Moderna's pricing flexibility and margin profile vs. other players in the SARS-CoV-2 vaccine market."
Foroohar called the decision in Arbutus' favor "a disappointing turn for Moderna."
"This decision opens the door to a fascinating (and likely protracted) period of investor controversy and debate around the implications of any potential infringement of claims by Arbutus regarding Moderna's use of Lipid Nanoparticle delivery technology, and any further actions Moderna may take to defend their own (intellectual property) position and freedom to operate," he said.
On the monthly chart, it looks like $9.00 might be the next stop..? At this point, I am not sure if there is a top right now for ABUS.
The news is huge for ABUS and could entitle ABUS to billions in profits and revenue from the COVID-19 vaccine.
Intelligent comments welcome.
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It's hard to follow exactly what is going on. But I can say that it has nothing to do with covid-19.... "Moderna said that the technology used in its Covid-19 vaccine isn’t covered by the patent its suit had been brought to challenge." And the lawsuit was filed back in January.
It seems to me that Moderna tried to legally void Arbus's patent by challenging it in court, which would mean that Moderna could avoid having to pay Arbus for the technology they developed and that Moderna wants to use. So really, it seems Moderna was trying to take technology that wasn't theirs without having to pay for it. This has nothing to do with covid-19, but everything to do with technology Arbus developed that hundreds if not thousands of companies around the world are using. Why would Arbus be expected to handle over what was probably millions of dollars and years of research, probably a big profit center for their business, just so Moderna wouldn't have to pay them licensing fees for the use of the technology? That is how this stuff works. Company A invents something, Company B wants to use... so they licence it.
Of course Moderna lost and it cost them not only in legal fees and time, but also face with their investors. Arbus simply defended their patent. If you know anything about patent law, if you don't defined your patents, you can lose them. I suspect this is why Moderna's stock is dropping while Arbus's stock is going up.
tylerb2709
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I hope everyone loses big on these shitheads...
tylerb2709
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scumbags...Just allow a vaccine and worry aboyt money later,People are Dying...
lauralea
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@tylerb2709, 99.8% who had this horrible disease have lived to share their story. 1% of nursing home patients who contracted it, died. Not a whole hell of a lot compared to most viruses. I think the intention was to scare folks..and it worked. Now what do we do? We have devastated our country ..the election is over. Maybe time to realize none of us are immortal..but maybe too late for this country
It seems to me that Moderna tried to legally void Arbus's patent by challenging it in court, which would mean that Moderna could avoid having to pay Arbus for the technology they developed and that Moderna wants to use. So really, it seems Moderna was trying to take technology that wasn't theirs without having to pay for it. This has nothing to do with covid-19, but everything to do with technology Arbus developed that hundreds if not thousands of companies around the world are using. Why would Arbus be expected to handle over what was probably millions of dollars and years of research, probably a big profit center for their business, just so Moderna wouldn't have to pay them licensing fees for the use of the technology? That is how this stuff works. Company A invents something, Company B wants to use... so they licence it.
Of course Moderna lost and it cost them not only in legal fees and time, but also face with their investors. Arbus simply defended their patent. If you know anything about patent law, if you don't defined your patents, you can lose them. I suspect this is why Moderna's stock is dropping while Arbus's stock is going up.