Recent Updates
Recently added Catalysts
BHVN Positive Sentiment

Federal Court Enters Judgment Confirming RA Capital and Avilar Therapeutics Willfully and Maliciously Misappropriated Trade Secret Developed at Yale, Formalizing $4 Million Award to Biohaven and Yale University

Key Takeaway: The U.S. District Court for Delaware has ruled in favor of Biohaven and Yale University in a trade secret misappropriation case against RA Capital and Avilar Therapeutics. The court formalized a $4 million award, reflecting the jury's findings of willful and malicious misappropriation of Yale's trade secret related to the MODA platform. This judgment follows a jury verdict delivered on July 24, 2026.

Market Sentiment Analysis

POSITIVE FACTORS

  • Court ruling confirms Biohaven and Yale's trade secret ownership.
  • Award of $4 million strengthens Biohaven's financial position.
  • Legal victory may deter future misappropriation of trade secrets.

CONCERNS & RISKS

  • Potential for post-trial motions could delay final resolution.
  • Litigation outcomes involve uncertainties and risks.

BiopharmaWatch Analysis

From our catalyst data and publicly available data · not financial advice
Best trade, last catalyst
+9%
120-day peak, hindsight
Typical move
11.3%
average across 4 past catalysts
Cash runway
~9 mo
Medium dilution risk
Lead asset
taldefgrobep alfa
Phase 3 · Spinal Muscular Atrophy

Full Press Release Details

NEW HAVEN, Conn., Aug. 25, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Biohaven Ltd. and/or its wholly owned subsidiaries ("Biohaven") (NYSE: BHVN) and Yale University ("Yale") today announced that the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware has entered judgment in their favor in the trade secret misappropriation and breach of contract litigation against Avilar Therapeutics, Inc. ("Avilar") and RA Capital Management GP, LLC ("RA Capital"). The judgment follows the jury's July 24, 2026 verdict and formalizes a combined $4 million award to Yale and Biohaven.
Entered by the Honorable Jennifer L. Hall, United States District Judge, the judgment reflects the jury's findings that RA Capital and Avilar willfully and maliciously misappropriated a Yale trade secret relating to its "MODA" targeted protein degradation platform, and that RA Capital separately breached its 2019 confidentiality agreement with Yale. Consistent with the verdict, the Court entered judgment awarding a combined $4 million: $2 million to Yale for RA Capital's breach of contract, and $1 million each to Yale and Biohaven for trade secret misappropriation.
Biohaven was represented by K&L Gates LLP and Morris James LLP. Susman Godfrey LLP and Farnan LLP represented Yale.

Background of the Case

• Dr. David Spiegel, a professor at Yale, developed the MODA platform, a technology designed to bind and eliminate disease-causing extracellular proteins from the body, and presented it at Yale's Lifesciences Pitchfest in 2018.
• RA Capital, a healthcare-focused investment firm, subsequently entered into a confidentiality agreement with Yale in April 2019 to evaluate a potential investment in and partnership around the technology.
• Over the following months, Dr. Spiegel shared confidential and detailed technical information with RA Capital, and the parties negotiated the terms of a possible deal. Those negotiations ended without an agreement in August 2019.
• Biohaven and Yale alleged that RA Capital, together with Avilar Therapeutics, a company RA Capital helped establish later that year, used confidential information from those discussions to build a competing drug development program instead of pursuing a partnership with Yale.
• Biohaven licensed the MODA platform from Yale to develop and commercialize the technology.
• Biohaven and Yale filed suit against Avilar and RA Capital in March 2023 in the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware, alleging trade secret misappropriation and breach of the confidentiality agreement between Yale and RA Capital. The case proceeded to a jury trial beginning July 20, 2026, and the jury returned its verdict on July 24, 2026.
• On August 24, 2026, the Court entered judgment following the jury verdict, formalizing the combined $4 million award. Following the entry of judgment, the parties may file post-trial motions, and the judgment is subject to the Court's consideration of those motions.

About Biohaven

Biohaven Ltd. (NYSE: BHVN) is a biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery, development, and commercialization of life-changing therapies for people with debilitating diseases, with a broad pipeline spanning neuroscience, immunology, and other therapeutic areas. For more information, visit biohaven.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The use of certain words, including "continue", "plan", "will", "believe", "may", "expect", "potentially", "potentially groundbreaking" and similar expressions, is intended to identify forward-looking statements. Investors are cautioned that any forward-looking statements, including statements regarding the litigation described above and its ultimate outcome, are not guarantees of future performance or results and involve substantial risks and uncertainties. Actual results, developments and events may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements as a result of various factors including: the outcome of legal proceedings, including any post-trial motions, appeals, and the final amount of any award or recovery; the expected timing, commencement and outcomes of Biohaven's planned and ongoing clinical trials; the timing of planned interactions and filings with the FDA; the timing and outcome of expected regulatory filings; complying with applicable U.S. regulatory requirements; the potential commercialization of Biohaven's product candidates; and the effectiveness and safety of Biohaven's product candidates. Additional important factors to be considered in connection with forward-looking statements are described in Biohaven's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including within the sections titled "Risk Factors" and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations". The forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this news release, and Biohaven does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

Investor Contact: Jennifer Porcelli Vice President, Investor Relations, Biohaven [email protected] +1 (201) 248-0741

Media Contact: Renée Soto Founding Partner, Reevemark [email protected] +1 (212) 433-4606

Frequently Asked Questions

What was the outcome of the Biohaven and Yale case?

The court ruled in favor of Biohaven and Yale, awarding them $4 million.

What did the jury find regarding RA Capital and Avilar?

The jury found that they willfully and maliciously misappropriated a trade secret.

What is the MODA platform developed by Yale?

The MODA platform is designed to bind and eliminate disease-causing proteins.

When was the judgment entered by the court?

The judgment was entered on August 24, 2026, following the jury's verdict.

What are the implications of this ruling for Biohaven?

The ruling strengthens Biohaven's position and may deter future misappropriation.

Last updated: Aug 25, 2026