mRNA therapy is gaining worldwide attention as an emerging therapeutic approach. The widespread use of mRNA vaccines during the COVID-19 outbreak has demonstrated the potential of mRNA therapy. As mRNA-based drugs have expanded and their indications have broadened, more patents for mRNA innovations have emerged. The global patent landscape for mRNA therapy has not yet been analyzed, indicating a research gap in need of filling, from new technology to productization. This study uses social network analysis with the patent quality assessment to investigate the temporal trends, citation relationship, and significant litigation for 16,101 mRNA therapy patents and summarizes the hot topics and potential future directions for this industry. The information obtained in this study not only may be utilized as a tool of knowledge for researchers in a comprehensive and integrated way but can also provide inspiration for efficient production methods for mRNA drugs. This study shows that infectious diseases and cancer are currently the primary applications for mRNA drugs. Emerging patent activity and lawsuits in this field are demonstrating that delivery technology remains one of the key challenges in the field and that drug-targeting research in combination with vector technology will be one of the major directions for the industry going forward. With significant funding, new organizations have developed novel delivery technologies in an attempt to break into the patent thicket established by companies such as Arbutus. The global mRNA therapeutic landscape is undergoing a multifaceted development pattern, and the monopoly of giant companies is being challenged.

翻译：mRNA疗法作为一种新兴治疗手段正获得全球关注。COVID-19疫情期间mRNA疫苗的广泛应用展示了该疗法的巨大潜力。随着mRNA药物种类的扩展及适应症的拓宽，相关创新专利数量持续增长。目前全球mRNA疗法专利布局尚未得到系统分析，表明从新技术到产业化过程中存在亟待填补的研究空白。本研究采用社会网络分析与专利质量评估方法，对16,101项mRNA疗法专利进行时间趋势、引证关系及重大诉讼事件的分析，并归纳该产业的热点议题与潜在发展方向。本研究获取的信息不仅能以综合集成的方式为研究人员提供知识工具，更能为mRNA药物高效生产方法提供启示。研究表明，传染性疾病与癌症仍是mRNA药物的主要应用领域。该领域新出现的专利活动与诉讼案例显示，递送技术始终是核心挑战之一，而药物靶向研究与载体技术的结合将成为产业未来主要发展方向。在巨额资金支持下，新兴机构已开发出新型递送技术，试图突破Arbutus等公司构筑的专利壁垒。全球mRNA疗法领域正呈现多元化发展格局，大型企业的垄断地位正面临挑战。