Alnylam Pharmaceuticals holds patents relating to biodegradable lipids used for nucleic acid delivery and accused Moderna of patent infringement concerning its mRNA vaccine. The case focused on the meaning of "branched alkyl" in the patent claims, particularly whether the alpha-position carbon must connect to three other carbon atoms. The District Court sided with Moderna, citing clear lexicography in the patents' specification that defines the term 'branched alkyl' to require a carbon atom bound to at least three other carbon atoms, not part of a cyclic group.
The specification states: 'Unless otherwise specified, the term[] 'branched alkyl' . . . refer[s] to an alkyl . . . group in which one carbon atom in the group (1) is bound to at least three other carbon atoms and (2) is not a ring atom of a cyclic group.'
Collection
[
|
...
]