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Lipid nanoparticles (messenger RNA)
Vancouver, Canada49.28°N 123.12°W
computed criticality17/100
reading
mRNA vaccines rely on lipid nanoparticles whose ionizable lipids are locked by patents (Acuitas, Genevant, Arbutus); Moderna settled the litigation in 2026 (~$950M)
2024Fault line
The mRNA vaccine only enters cells thanks to an envelope of ionisable lipids whose IP and manufacture are held by a handful of players. A rare link, revealed by the Covid vaccine race and the patent battles that followed.
Actors
Acuitas Therapeutics
Genevant
CordenPharma
Evonik
Sources