GSK and Pfizer Drop RSV Vaccine Patent Lawsuit

GlaxoSmithKline (NYSE:GSK) and Pfizer (NYSE:PFE) have agreed to dismiss a U.S. patent lawsuit over Pfizer’s RSV vaccine, Abrysvo, which GSK claimed infringed on its own RSV shot, Arexvy. The two pharmaceutical giants filed to drop the case with prejudice in Delaware federal court, preventing it from being refiled. Neither company has commented publicly or disclosed if a settlement was reached.

GSK originally sued Pfizer in 2023, alleging that Abrysvo violated patents related to antigen technology used in Arexvy. According to GSK, Pfizer’s RSV vaccine development began in 2013, several years after GSK had started work on its version. Pfizer denied the allegations, arguing that GSK’s patents were invalid. In a related case, a UK court sided with Pfizer and invalidated similar GSK patents in 2023.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved RSV vaccines from GSK, Pfizer, and Moderna (NASDAQ:MRNA). Arexvy, GSK’s RSV shot, currently leads U.S. sales in this growing vaccine market. RSV, or respiratory syncytial virus, causes mild cold-like symptoms but can lead to serious respiratory illness, especially in infants and older adults.

The patent battle over RSV vaccines highlights intensifying competition in the global vaccine market. Despite dropping this particular case, legal tensions remain between GSK and Pfizer. GSK has another ongoing U.S. lawsuit claiming Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine, Comirnaty, infringes on its patented technology.

As leading pharmaceutical firms compete for dominance in respiratory vaccines, patent disputes are likely to continue. RSV vaccine sales are expected to grow as global demand rises, making this a critical area for innovation and legal scrutiny.