CureVac
Corporate brand
UnclaimedGerman biopharmaceutical company developing messenger RNA vaccines and medicines for infectious diseases, cancer, and rare diseases.
Last updated August 21, 2026
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Overview
CureVac is a German biopharmaceutical company headquartered in Tübingen and focused on messenger RNA, or mRNA, technology. Founded in 2000 by Ingmar Hoerr, Steve Pascolo, Florian von der Mulbe, Günther Jung, and Hans-Georg Rammensee, the company emerged from academic work on the use of messenger RNA as a platform for stimulating immune responses and producing therapeutic proteins. Its research portfolio has covered prophylactic vaccines, cancer immunotherapy, treatments for rare diseases, and technologies intended to support rapid, decentralized manufacturing of mRNA products. The company became internationally prominent during the COVID-19 pandemic. CureVac was one of the early German biotechnology companies to pursue an mRNA vaccine against SARS-CoV-2. Its first COVID-19 candidate, CVnCoV, later associated with the active ingredient name zorecimeran, entered clinical development in 2020. The German federal government committed €300 million to CureVac during that year through the state-owned development bank KfW, with the investment intended to support vaccine development and manufacturing capacity. CureVac also established development and manufacturing relationships with Bayer and pursued a broader collaboration with GlaxoSmithKline, now generally known as GSK. CVnCoV progressed to a large Phase III study involving approximately 36,500 participants. In June 2021, CureVac reported preliminary efficacy of 47%, a result that did not meet the performance threshold the company and European regulators had been targeting for a COVID-19 vaccine. The outcome was affected by the emergence of multiple viral variants during the trial period. CureVac subsequently abandoned further development of CVnCoV and redirected resources toward next-generation mRNA vaccine technologies, particularly through its collaboration with GSK. A follow-on candidate, CV2CoV, entered the company's development planning but experienced delays to its Phase I timetable. CureVac's business is based on an mRNA platform intended to encode selected antigens or therapeutic proteins. The company has sought to improve the stability, translation efficiency, dosing, and manufacturing characteristics of mRNA products. Its research partnerships have included Eli Lilly, Johnson & Johnson's Janssen unit, Sanofi Pasteur, Boehringer Ingelheim, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative, the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations, GSK, and public-sector organizations. Areas of collaboration have included influenza, HIV, cancer immunotherapy, emerging infectious diseases, and personalized medicines. The company has also developed the concept of an RNA printer: a compact production system designed to manufacture mRNA drug substances or vaccine candidates close to the point of need. CureVac received support from CEPI for this technology in 2019, with proposed applications including vaccines against Lassa fever, yellow fever, and rabies. In 2020, CureVac and Tesla discussed portable RNA microfactories based on related manufacturing concepts, although this initiative did not become a marketed CureVac product. CureVac became a public company on Nasdaq in August 2020 under the symbol CVAC. The supplied reference material also records BioNTech's announced all-stock acquisition of CureVac in 2025 and the reported completion of the transaction after 86.75% of CureVac shares were tendered. This transaction changes the company's ownership context, although CureVac remains a distinct biotechnology brand and research organization in the available material.
History
CureVac was established in 2000 in Tübingen by Ingmar Hoerr, Steve Pascolo, Florian von der Mulbe, Günther Jung, and Hans-Georg Rammensee. The founders developed the company around the idea that messenger RNA could be used as a programmable biological signal. Instead of supplying a finished protein or using a conventional vaccine platform, an mRNA medicine delivers genetic instructions that cells can temporarily read to produce a target antigen or therapeutic protein. During its early development, CureVac built a research platform spanning infectious-disease vaccination and cancer immunotherapy. The company received recognition in 2007 through the innovation prize of Baden-Württemberg and the nationwide Weconomy competition. It subsequently expanded its external relationships. In 2013, CureVac began work with Janssen on influenza vaccines and announced another cancer-immunotherapy collaboration involving the Cancer Research Institute and Ludwig Cancer Research. In 2014, it won a €2 million European Commission prize connected with new vaccine technologies, signed an exclusive mRNA vaccine licensing agreement with Sanofi Pasteur, and licensed global rights to the cancer vaccine candidate CV9202 to Boehringer Ingelheim for combination studies involving afatinib in lung cancer. CureVac continued to develop its platform through philanthropic, governmental, and pharmaceutical partnerships. In 2015, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation agreed to fund several prophylactic-vaccine projects using CureVac's mRNA technology. CureVac also entered a collaboration with the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative to develop HIV vaccines and announced plans for a United States hub in Boston. In 2016, construction began on a production facility associated with the company's relationship with Eli Lilly. These activities helped move CureVac from a research-focused biotechnology enterprise toward a platform company seeking clinical and manufacturing capabilities. A major technology initiative followed in 2019, when CEPI awarded CureVac $34 million for development of an RNA printer. The proposed system was intended to produce mRNA vaccine candidates in a compact and adaptable format, potentially allowing vaccine manufacturing to be deployed closer to outbreak locations and reducing dependence on centralized supply chains. Initial target applications included Lassa fever, yellow fever, and rabies, as well as possible personalized medicines. The COVID-19 pandemic made CureVac one of the most visible European mRNA companies. The firm developed CVnCoV, an mRNA vaccine candidate encoding part of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. In June 2020, Germany committed €300 million through KfW, reportedly corresponding to an approximately 23% stake. CureVac also worked with Bayer on clinical development, logistics, and potential manufacturing. In July 2020, CureVac and Tesla discussed portable RNA microfactories based on CureVac's manufacturing concepts, and the companies filed a joint patent related to the technology. CureVac's initial public offering took place in August 2020, raising $213 million and placing its shares on Nasdaq under CVAC. Clinical trials for CVnCoV began in 2020, with a large Phase III study launched late that year. CureVac submitted data to the European Medicines Agency through a rolling review process in February 2021. In June 2021, the company announced 47% efficacy in the Phase III trial. The study involved numerous viral variants, complicating comparison with earlier vaccine trials, but the result was insufficient for the intended regulatory path. CureVac ended CVnCoV development in October 2021 and concentrated on next-generation candidates, including work with GSK. The planned development of CV2CoV was delayed from late 2021 to early 2022, and the timing of any approval-enabling study moved beyond the company's initial expectations. CureVac's later corporate history includes a reported 2025 acquisition by BioNTech in an all-stock transaction. The supplied material states that the deal was valued at approximately $1.25 billion and completed after 86.75% of CureVac shares were tendered. The transaction places CureVac's mRNA capabilities within BioNTech's broader biotechnology organization while retaining CureVac as the relevant brand and historical platform identity in this dossier.
- 2025
BioNTech acquisition is reported completed
[1]The supplied reference material reports completion of BioNTech's all-stock acquisition after 86.75% of CureVac shares were tendered.
- 2021
Reports Phase III CVnCoV efficacy
[1]CureVac reports 47% efficacy for CVnCoV in its Phase III COVID-19 vaccine study.
- 2021
Stops CVnCoV development
[1]The company abandons further development of its first COVID-19 vaccine candidate and prioritizes next-generation mRNA programs with GSK.
- 2020
Receives German government investment
[1]Germany commits €300 million through KfW to support CureVac's COVID-19 vaccine program and manufacturing development.
- 2020
Lists on Nasdaq
[1]CureVac begins public trading on Nasdaq under the ticker CVAC and raises $213 million in its initial public offering.
- 2019
Receives CEPI support for RNA printer
[1]CEPI awards CureVac $34 million to develop a portable, flexible mRNA production system.
- 2015
Adds Gates Foundation and IAVI partnerships
[1]The company receives funding for prophylactic-vaccine projects and collaborates with IAVI on HIV-vaccine development.
- 2014
Wins European vaccine-technology prize and signs licensing agreements
[1]CureVac receives a €2 million European Commission prize, licenses an mRNA prophylactic-vaccine program to Sanofi Pasteur, and licenses CV9202 rights to Boehringer Ingelheim.
- 2013
Expands vaccine and cancer collaborations
[1]The company begins a flu-vaccine collaboration with Janssen and announces further cancer-immunotherapy work.
- 2007
Receives German innovation recognition
[1]CureVac receives the innovation prize of Baden-Württemberg and wins the nationwide Weconomy competition.
Products and positioning
A specialist mRNA biotechnology company positioned around platform innovation, rapid vaccine development, therapeutic vaccination, and flexible manufacturing rather than a commercial consumer-health brand.
COVID-19 mRNA vaccine candidate · 2020
CVnCoV
CVnCoV was CureVac's first major COVID-19 vaccine candidate. It used messenger RNA encoding a portion of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein so that vaccinated cells could produce the antigen and stimulate an immune response. Clinical development began in 2020, including a Phase III study of approximately 36,500 participants. CureVac reported 47% efficacy in June 2021 and discontinued the program later that year.
Next-generation COVID-19 mRNA vaccine candidate · 2022
CV2CoV
CV2CoV was planned as an improved successor to CVnCoV, reflecting CureVac's shift toward next-generation mRNA vaccine designs. The start of its Phase I study was postponed from the fourth quarter of 2021 to the first quarter of 2022 in the supplied reference material. The available material does not establish a later commercial status.
Cancer immunotherapy candidate
CV9202
CV9202 was an mRNA-based cancer-immunotherapy candidate associated with CureVac's work in lung cancer. In 2014, CureVac licensed global rights to Boehringer Ingelheim, which planned studies combining the candidate with afatinib in advanced or metastatic EGFR-mutated non-small-cell lung cancer and inoperable stage III disease.
mRNA manufacturing technology · 2019
RNA printer
The RNA printer is a compact production concept designed to manufacture mRNA vaccine candidates or medicines near the point of use. CureVac developed the technology with CEPI support, targeting faster responses to infectious-disease outbreaks and potential production of personalized medicines. The supplied material also describes discussions with Tesla concerning portable RNA microfactories.
Controversies
2020
Reports of alleged US pressure over CureVac relocation
Media reports alleged that the Trump administration sought to persuade CureVac to relocate to the United States during the early COVID-19 vaccine race. CureVac publicly stated that it had not received an offer from the US government or related entities and rejected the allegations.
Marketing campaigns
- 2020COVID-19 vaccine development program
Germany · Europe · Global
CureVac's pandemic-era program sought to develop and manufacture CVnCoV, an mRNA vaccine against SARS-CoV-2. It involved public investment from Germany, clinical-development support from Bayer, and international trial planning.
Outcome. CVnCoV did not advance to authorization after its Phase III efficacy result, and CureVac shifted to next-generation candidates.
- 2020RNA microfactory collaboration discussions with Tesla
Global
CureVac and Tesla discussed portable manufacturing units based on CureVac's RNA-printer concept and filed a joint patent related to the technology.
Outcome. The initiative remained a technology collaboration and did not become a documented commercial product launch.
Brand decisions
2025
Accept BioNTech all-stock acquisitionM&ABackground
BioNTech announced an all-stock transaction intended to acquire CureVac and combine complementary mRNA research capabilities.
Action taken
The supplied reference material reports that the transaction was completed after 86.75% of CureVac shares were tendered.
Aftermath
CureVac became part of BioNTech's ownership structure while continuing to represent a distinct mRNA biotechnology brand in the available references.
Reported transaction value. $1.25 billion (2025 announced transaction)
2021
End development of CVnCoVStrategyBackground
The first-generation COVID-19 vaccine candidate produced 47% efficacy in a Phase III study conducted amid circulation of multiple SARS-CoV-2 variants.
Action taken
CureVac stopped further CVnCoV development and redirected its COVID-19 work toward improved mRNA technology and collaboration with GSK.
Aftermath
The decision ended CureVac's initial route toward a COVID-19 vaccine authorization and delayed the company's entry into the commercial COVID-19 vaccine market.
Recent events
Reported
CureVac announces 2020 financial results and business updates[3]
CureVac announced its financial results for the fourth quarter and full year 2020, along with business updates.
Reported
CureVac prices follow-on public offering[4]
CureVac announced the pricing of a follow-on public offering of 5,000,000 common shares at $90 per share, for approximately $450 million in gross proceeds. The offering was expected to close on February 1, 2021, subject to customary closing conditions.
Reported
CureVac appoints Antony Blanc to two executive roles[5]
CureVac announced that Antony Blanc was appointed Chief Business Officer and Chief Commercial Officer.
CureVac appoints CEO and chief scientific officer[6]
CureVac announced that Dr. Franz-Werner Haas was appointed CEO and that Igor Splawski joined its executive team as chief scientific officer with immediate effect.
- Unconfirmed
Reported
CureVac closes $640 million financing round[7]
CureVac closed a $640 million private financing round, including a further $126 million from Qatar Investment Authority and unnamed new and existing investors.
Reported
GSK and CureVac agree mRNA vaccine collaboration[8]
GlaxoSmithKline and CureVac announced a strategic collaboration agreement covering the research, development, manufacturing and commercialisation of up to five mRNA-based vaccines and monoclonal antibodies targeting infectious disease pathogens. CureVac's existing COVID-19 mRNA and rabies vaccine research programmes are excluded.
Reported
German government announces planned investment for a 23% stake in CureVac[9]
The German government announced that state-owned KfW would invest €300 million to acquire a 23% stake in CureVac. The report says the stated aim was to keep vaccine technology in Germany and prevent it from moving abroad.
Sources12 sources
- 1CureVacen.wikipedia.org
- 2CureVac official websitecurevac.com
- 3CureVac公布2020年财务业绩及业务进展finanznachrichten.de
- 4CureVac为后续公开发行定价finanznachrichten.de
- 5CureVac任命Antony Blanc担任两项高管职务finanznachrichten.de
- 6CureVac任命首席执行官和首席科学官itbusinessnet.com
- 7CureVac完成6.4亿美元融资fiercebiotech.com
- 8GSK与CureVac达成mRNA疫苗合作directorstalkinterviews.com
- 9德国政府宣布拟入股CureVac 23%orientaldaily.com.my
- 10CureVac Announces Financial Results for the Second Quarter and First Half of 2021 and Provides Business Updatefinanznachrichten.de
- 11CureVac Announces Financial Results for the Third Quarter and First Nine Months of 2021 and Provides Business Updatecaliforniatelegraph.com
- 12GSK joins forces with CureVac to manufacture its Covid-19 vaccine — and to develop anotherstatnews.com
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