Arbutus Biopharma shares surge 16.22% after-hours on $2.25B Moderna settlement with $950M upfront and $1.3B contingent payment.

Arbutus Biopharma’s stock surged 16.22% in after-hours trading following the announcement of a $2.25 billion global settlement with Moderna, resolving patent-infringement disputes over lipid nanoparticle (LNP) delivery technology used in Moderna’s Spikevax® vaccine. The settlement includes a $950 million upfront payment in July 2026 and an additional $1.3 billion contingent on a favorable appellate ruling regarding Section 1498 of U.S. law. The agreement grants Moderna a non-exclusive license to the LNP technology for infectious disease vaccines and ends all litigation, validating Arbutus’s patents and acknowledging its foundational role in mRNA vaccine development. The company also hinted at evaluating a return of capital to shareholders, further bolstering investor sentiment. The deal marks one of the largest patent settlements in the pharmaceutical industry, signaling substantial near-term liquidity and long-term IP protection for Arbutus.