01:17 PM EDT, 05/17/2024 (MT Newswires) -- (Updates with statement from BioNTech in the fifth paragraph and stock move in the last paragraph.)

Moderna ( MRNA ) won a favorable decision in its Covid-19 vaccine dispute with Pfizer ( PFE ) and BioNTech from the European Patent Office's Opposition Division, upholding the validity of one of two disputed patents, the Financial Times reported Friday.

The EPO announced an oral verdict on Thursday and will publish the written document in the coming months, according to the report.

"We are pleased to announce that the European Patent Office decided to maintain the validity of Moderna's ( MRNA ) EP949 patent, one of the key patents currently asserted against Pfizer ( PFE ) and BioNTech in various European national courts," Moderna ( MRNA ) said, according to the FT.

Pfizer ( PFE ) has nine months to file an appeal, which it may do, the report said.

"We believe that neither EP '949 nor any of the auxiliary requests filed by Moderna ( MRNA ) meet the requirements for patentability," BioNTech told MT Newswires. "We will continue to vigorously defend our innovations against all allegations of patent infringement including this case," the company added.

Neither Moderna ( MRNA ) nor Pfizer ( PFE ) immediately responded to MT Newswires' requests for comment.

Moderna ( MRNA ) shares rose 0.9% in recent trading Friday, while Pfizer ( PFE ) and BioNTech fell 1.1% and 0.9% respectively.

(Market Chatter news is derived from conversations with market professionals globally. This information is believed to be from reliable sources but may include rumor and speculation. Accuracy is not guaranteed.)

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