GSK and CureVac Restructure Partnership for mRNA Vaccine Development
GSK plc (LSE/NYSE: GSK) and CureVac N.V. (Nasdaq: CVAC) have announced a major restructure of their collaboration, shifting to a new licensing agreement aimed at optimizing investment and focusing on mRNA vaccine development.
Since 2020, GSK and CureVac have collaborated on mRNA vaccines targeting infectious diseases. Their joint efforts have resulted in promising candidates for seasonal influenza, COVID-19 (currently in phase II), and avian influenza (phase I clinical development). These vaccines are based on CureVac’s advanced mRNA platform, showing potential as next-generation immunization solutions.
Under the terms of the new agreement, GSK will assume full responsibility for developing and manufacturing these vaccine candidates, gaining exclusive global commercialization rights. This move underscores GSK’s commitment to advancing vaccine platform technologies tailored to specific pathogens for superior vaccine efficacy.
“MRNA technology is highly adaptable, making it ideal for addressing emerging viral threats,” remarked Tony Wood, Chief Scientific Officer at GSK. “We’re enthusiastic about advancing our flu/COVID-19 programs and delivering cutting-edge mRNA vaccines that could redefine treatment standards.”
As part of the agreement, CureVac will receive an upfront payment of €400 million, with potential additional payments totaling up to €1.05 billion linked to development, regulatory milestones, and sales achievements. CureVac retains rights to undisclosed infectious disease targets from the previous collaboration, alongside the freedom to independently pursue mRNA vaccines across various diseases and indications.
Alexander Zehnder, CEO of CureVac, emphasized the strategic benefits of the new agreement, stating, “This positions CureVac strongly financially and allows us to focus on expanding our R&D pipeline, leveraging our mRNA platform’s potential.”
The completion of the agreement remains subject to regulatory approvals and customary closing conditions. CureVac’s ongoing patent litigation against Pfizer/BioNTech remains unaffected by this new partnership structure.
This strategic realignment marks a significant milestone in the advancement of mRNA vaccine technology, promising innovative solutions in global healthcare.