Patent Dispute Over Cancer Therapy

NRC reports on a legal dispute where Amsterdam UMC is suing Ronald Plasterk and CureVac over patent rights. Key points:

• Amsterdam UMC claims Plasterk wrongfully filed patents for cancer therapy as sole inventor, excluding co-inventor Jan Koster
• Plasterk sold these patents through his company Frame Therapeutics to CureVac for €32 million in 2022
• The hospital seeks co-inventor status, co-ownership of patents, and damages from both Plasterk and CureVac
• The dispute led to Plasterk withdrawing as a candidate for Dutch prime minister in May 2024
• Plasterk maintains he acted in good faith and claims he had written permission from hospital leadership, though hasn't provided evidence
• The case's financial stakes are significant, with patent applications valued at over €6 million when sold

The lawsuit follows failed attempts to resolve the matter outside court and will be heard in The Hague, with date pending.