Germany's CureVac and Britain's GSK have settled a years-long patent dispute with Pfizer and its partner BioNTech over the mRNA vaccine technology that was at the forefront of the world's fight against COVID-19.

The complex settlement, which hands payouts and royalties to CureVac and partner GSK, comes as BioNTech is inching toward an acquisition of its one-time COVID-19 vaccine competitor.

The settlement ends US mRNA patent disputes involving COVID-19 and influenza vaccines, while positioning GSK for additional payments and global royalty benefits if BioNTech’s acquisition of CureVac closes.