# 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. - **Patent:** US 20230136960 - **Original title:** Novel MRNA-Based COVID-19 Multi-Valent Vaccine and Methods of Scaled Production of the Same - **Owner:** Natures Toolbox - **Status:** Active - **Times cited:** 1 - **Field:** biotech, pharmaceutical, gene_editing, telecommunications ## What it does 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. ## 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. ## 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. ## Real-world examples 1. Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine (Comirnaty) 2. Moderna COVID-19 vaccine (Spikevax) 3. Other mRNA-based vaccine candidates for infectious diseases ## Why it matters 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. ## 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. **Full plain-English explainer:** https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/20230136960/novel-mrna-based-covid-19-multi-valent-vaccine-and-methods-of-scaled-production- **Original patent:** https://patents.google.com/patent/US20230136960 --- _Source: PatentBrief — https://patentbrief.org. Patent facts are from public records; the plain-English explanation is PatentBrief's._ ## Related patents Semantically similar inventions in the PatentBrief corpus: - [How an mRNA Vaccine Teaches Your Body to Fight Rabies](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/12083190/rabies-vaccine) — This patent describes a method for creating an immune response against the rabies virus by injecting a specific messenger RNA molecule that instructs cells to produce a key rabies protein. - [How Modified RNA Tricks Cells Into Making Proteins Without Triggering Attacks](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/8278036/rna-containing-modified-nucleosides-and-methods-of-use-thereof) — A breakthrough method for using modified RNA to deliver instructions to cells without causing the body to reject the treatment as a foreign invader. - [How Moderna's mRNA Vaccine Technology Targets Betacoronaviruses](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/10702600/betacoronavirus-mrna-vaccine) — A patent describing a specific mRNA vaccine design that uses lipid nanoparticles to deliver genetic instructions for building parts of a betacoronavirus to trigger an immune response. - [How an mRNA Vaccine Targets Prostate Cancer with Six Antigens](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/20160166668/composition-and-vaccine-for-treating-prostate-cancer) — This patent describes an mRNA vaccine designed to treat prostate cancer by delivering genetic instructions for a specific combination of six prostate-related proteins, teaching the body to fight the cancer. - [Making RNA for Vaccines More Consistent](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/11692002/rna-sequence-adaptation) — CureVac's 2023 patent on a method to create multiple RNA strands with similar numbers of A and U nucleotides, making them easier to purify and use in vaccines.