Patent Trial and Appeal Board upheld validity of four Acorda patents; district court judge to issue decision on five patents. Victory would block generic competition until 2025.

Patent board has instituted 19 other inter partes review proceedings sought by the hedge fund manager and declined to institute 14.

Neither has announced a firm timeline, and the difference between Pfizer's 'October' and Moderna's 'November' could be mere hours or a few weeks, but Pfizer, by dint of luck or experience, is now in a position to offer the more optimistic projection on when it will seek an EUA. Both firms release their Phase III trial protocols, which seem in line with US FDA guidance.