How a Specific mRNA Vaccine for COVID-19 is Designed
This patent describes specific messenger RNA (mRNA) sequences designed to teach the body to fight the COVID-19 virus by producing parts of the virus, like its spike protein, to trigger an immune response.
Original patent title: “Novel MRNA-Based COVID-19 Multi-Valent Vaccine and Methods of Scaled Production of the Same”
This patent describes specific messenger RNA (mRNA) sequences designed to teach the body to fight the COVID-19 virus by producing parts of the virus, like its spike protein, to trigger an immune response. Owned by Natures Toolbox with 29 claims and 1 forward citation, and it is expected to expire in 2041.
Coverage
What does this patent actually cover?
This technology describes a messenger RNA (mRNA) molecule that carries instructions for human cells to make specific parts of the COVID-19 coronavirus. Specifically, the mRNA includes one or more 'coding regions' that tell cells to produce a 'peptide' (a small protein) derived from the COVID-19 virus, as detailed in claimclaimA numbered sentence at the end of a patent that legally defines what the inventor owns. The most important section.Read more → 1. These peptides can include the virus's 'spike protein' (claim 4), the 'receptor-binding motif' (RBM) (claim 6), the 'nucleocapsid protein' (NCP) (claim 8), or the 'FuPep region' of the spike protein (claim 10). The mRNA also includes specific structural features like a 5' N7-methylguanine cap (claim 12) and untranslated regions (UTRs) from *Xenopus laevis* (African clawed frog) (claim 14), which help the mRNA function effectively in the body. For example, an mRNA molecule described here might instruct your cells to produce the COVID-19 spike protein, which then trains your immune system to recognize and fight the real virus.
The gap
What does this patent NOT cover?
- Does not cover non-mRNA vaccine technologies, such as traditional protein-based, inactivated virus, or viral vector vaccines.
- Does not cover mRNA vaccines designed to target viruses or pathogens other than the COVID-19 coronavirus.
- Does not cover mRNA sequences that encode for COVID-19 peptides significantly different from those specified by SEQ ID NOs. 4-6, 12-15, and 17, or their variants with less than 95% sequence identity.
- Does not cover mRNA constructs that lack a 5' N7-methylguanine cap or the specific 5' and 3' untranslated regions (UTRs) as described in the claimsclaimsThe numbered statements at the end of a patent that legally define what the inventor owns.Read more →.
- Does not cover mRNA that does not include a signal coding sequence, such as an IgE signal coding sequence, if that feature is present.
These exclusions are unique to PatentBrief — derived from the actual claim language, not patent-office boilerplate.
Key facts
What made this novel
The clever bit is the precise recipe for the mRNA molecule itself. It involves selecting specific genetic sequences from the COVID-19 virus that, when translated into proteins, can effectively trigger an immune response, combined with specific non-coding regions and caps that ensure the mRNA is stable and efficiently used by human cells.
The Patent Drawing
Schematic visualization of the patent's claim structure. Hand-drawn diagrams in progress for each landmark patent.
Where you've seen this
Real-world examples
Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine (Comirnaty)
Moderna COVID-19 vaccine (Spikevax)
Other mRNA-based vaccine candidates for infectious diseases
Why it matters
The bigger picture
This patent contributes to the specific design of mRNA vaccines, a technology that proved critical during the COVID-19 pandemic. By defining precise mRNA sequences and structural components, it aims to create an effective way for the body to generate an immune response against the coronavirus. The ability to rapidly design and produce such vaccines was a major factor in global health efforts.
Filed
March 19, 2021
Market context
Who's building on this
Companies in this space
Natures Toolbox Inc. is the assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more → of this patent, indicating their work in this area. Major pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies like Pfizer, BioNTech, Moderna, and CureVac are leading the development and commercialization of mRNA vaccine technologies. These companies continue to research and develop new mRNA vaccine candidates for various infectious diseases and other therapeutic applications.
Market impact
The filing of this patent reflects the intense global effort to develop effective COVID-19 vaccines. mRNA technology, including the specific design principles outlined here, rapidly became a cornerstone of the pandemic response, enabling the swift development and deployment of highly effective vaccines. This success has validated the mRNA platform, leading to significant investment and expansion in the field, and opening new avenues for future vaccine and therapeutic development beyond infectious diseases.
Claim 1 — Plain English
What this patent covers
This technology describes a messenger RNA (mRNA) molecule that carries instructions for human cells to make specific parts of the COVID-19 coronavirus. Specifically, the mRNA includes one or more 'coding regions' that tell cells to produce a 'peptide' (a small protein) derived from the COVID-19 virus, as detailed in claim 1. These peptides can include the virus's 'spike protein' (claim 4), the 'receptor-binding motif' (RBM) (claim 6), the 'nucleocapsid protein' (NCP) (claim 8), or the 'FuPep region' of the spike protein (claim 10). The mRNA also includes specific structural features like a 5' N7-methylguanine cap (claim 12) and untranslated regions (UTRs) from *Xenopus laevis* (African clawed frog) (claim 14), which help the mRNA function effectively in the body. For example, an mRNA molecule described here might instruct your cells to produce the COVID-19 spike protein, which then trains your immune system to recognize and fight the real virus.
The clever bit
The clever bit is the precise recipe for the mRNA molecule itself. It involves selecting specific genetic sequences from the COVID-19 virus that, when translated into proteins, can effectively trigger an immune response, combined with specific non-coding regions and caps that ensure the mRNA is stable and efficiently used by human cells.
What it does not cover
- Does not cover non-mRNA vaccine technologies, such as traditional protein-based, inactivated virus, or viral vector vaccines.
- Does not cover mRNA vaccines designed to target viruses or pathogens other than the COVID-19 coronavirus.
- Does not cover mRNA sequences that encode for COVID-19 peptides significantly different from those specified by SEQ ID NOs. 4-6, 12-15, and 17, or their variants with less than 95% sequence identity.
- Does not cover mRNA constructs that lack a 5' N7-methylguanine cap or the specific 5' and 3' untranslated regions (UTRs) as described in the claims.
- Does not cover mRNA that does not include a signal coding sequence, such as an IgE signal coding sequence, if that feature is present.
Patent timeline
Application submitted to the patent office
Patent enters public domain
PatentBrief Score
Impact Score
Early stage
Citation count
6/40
Early citations
Claim breadth
19/20
Very broad protection
Recency
0/20
Older than 20 years
Assignee scale
0/20
Independent or smaller assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more →
PatentBrief Impact Score — based on citation count, claim breadth, recency, and assignee scale. Not a legal assessment.
Heuristic Value Estimate
What this patent might be worth
$117K – $374K
Midpoint $234K · 14.4 yr remaining · industry ×3.0
Heuristic only — blends forward/backward citation counts, claim scope, time remaining, litigation history, and CPC-derived industry baseline. Real valuations need a professional appraisal.
Claim text not yet imported for this patent
The original legal language
Original claims
29 claims as filed with the patent office.
Concepts involved
Citations
Patent lineage
Cite this patent
Koglin, A., & Humbert, M. How a Specific mRNA Vaccine for COVID-19 is Designed (U.S. Patent No. 20,230,136,960). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/20230136960/novel-mrna-based-covid-19-multi-valent-vaccine-and-methods-of-scaled-production-
Auto-generated from the patent record. Double-check author order and the issue date against the official USPTO document before submitting.
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Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What does How a Specific mRNA Vaccine for COVID-19 is Designed cover?
This patent describes specific messenger RNA (mRNA) sequences designed to teach the body to fight the COVID-19 virus by producing parts of the virus, like its spike protein, to trigger an immune response.
Who owns patent US 20230136960?
This patent is owned by Natures Toolbox.
When does this patent expire?
This patent is expected to expire on March 19, 2041, when the invention enters the public domain.
What is patent US 20230136960 cited by?
This patent has been cited by 1 later patents that build on its ideas.
What problem does this patent solve?
This patent contributes to the specific design of mRNA vaccines, a technology that proved critical during the COVID-19 pandemic. By defining precise mRNA sequences and structural components, it aims to create an effective way for the body to generate an immune response against the coronavirus. The ability to rapidly design and produce such vaccines was a major factor in global health efforts.
What does this patent NOT cover?
Does not cover non-mRNA vaccine technologies, such as traditional protein-based, inactivated virus, or viral vector vaccines.
Patent monitoring