Northwestern filed a lawsuit against Moderna Wednesday alleging the company misused the University’s patented lipid nanoparticles to develop its SpikeVax COVID-19 vaccine. NU had a critical role in the development of the lipid nanoparticles, according to the complaint. The University also argued Moderna’s explicit use of the particles in its mRNA vaccine was a violation of the patent. The University is seeking “reasonable royalties” but did not specify how much money it expects from Moderna.