The company, which has received public subsidies for its vaccine, acknowledges NIH contributions but says it alone invented the shot.

“Moderna is disputing some claims by the National Institutes of Health that it was behind the invention of the company’s mRNA coronavirus vaccine, raising the stakes in the debate over the government’s ability to exert influence over the availability and price of the vaccine in the future.”

“NIAID said Tuesday that it disagrees with Moderna’s position after a thorough review and that its scientists should be named as inventors. Citing a four-year history of investigating potential vaccines with Moderna for other coronaviruses, including MERS, the agency said in a statement that “NIH and Moderna agreed to collaborate and jointly develop a COVID-19 vaccine” last year.”

https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2021/11/09/moderna-nih-patent-vaccine/