Moderna agreed with Roivant to pay up to $2.25 billion to settle a patent dispute over its mRNA vaccine against COVID-19[1]. Roivant will receive $950 million immediately and an additional $1.3 billion if Moderna's attempts to shift some of the liability to the federal government fail on appeal[1]. This deal makes a big profit for Arbutus and Roivant[original content]. If paid out in full, it will be one of the largest patent settlements in history[1]. According to Jacob Sherkow, a professor of law and medicine at the University of Illinois-Urbana Champaign, it is probably the largest ever[1]. The Moderna deal avoided the worst possible scenario[original content]. The article was written by STAT journalist Jason Mast, focusing on the science behind new drugs[1].