A federal judge rejected portions of Moderna’s defenses in its protracted patent dispute with Arbutus, advancing Arbutus’s claims in litigation tied to mRNA technology. Court rulings limited Moderna’s ability to rely on certain arguments, reshaping the posture of the case as it proceeds through discovery and potential trial phases. The decision increases legal risk for Moderna around foundational mRNA intellectual property and could affect licensing negotiations, damages exposure, or downstream settlements if Arbutus prevails on core patent claims. The ruling also underscores the durability of legacy platform disputes as mRNA vaccines and therapeutics expand commercially. Industry observers say the outcome reinforces the importance of IP diligence for platform companies and may spur renewed licensing activity or carve‑outs in mRNA reagent and LNP supply chains.