BioNTech Settles $1.2B COVID Vaccine Dispute

BioNTech has agreed to pay over $1.2 billion in settlements to resolve disputes over royalty payments related to its COVID-19 vaccine. The settlements include $791.5 million to the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) and $467 million to the University of Pennsylvania. These agreements settle claims concerning licensing fees and patent rights linked to the vaccine, developed in partnership with Pfizer. The University of Pennsylvania had accused BioNTech of underpaying royalties, alleging the company used their technology via a sublicense obtained in 2017. BioNTech emphasized that the settlements do not imply an admission of liability. These settlements are separate from BioNTech's ongoing legal disputes with companies like Moderna and CureVac.