The Tübingen biotech company CureVac, known for its failed Corona vaccine development, has decided on a strategic realignment after years of losses. The future focus will be on oncology and non-respiratory diseases, such as recurrent urinary tract infections. CureVac is relying on the further development of mRNA technology and is in talks with potential pharmaceutical partners, explained CEO Alexander Zehnder.

A key step was the sale of mRNA licenses for flu and Covid-19 vaccines to GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) for up to 1.45 billion euros. CureVac received 400 million euros as an advance payment. The deal financially secures the company until at least 2028 and brought black figures again in the third quarter of 2024 for the first time since the pandemic.

At the same time, CureVac is relying on a drastic streamlining: From seven hierarchical levels, two remain, departments have been merged. The 2024 job cuts involving 300 employees are to be completed by January 2025. The severance programs, which have cost 14 million euros so far, did not cause any operational layoffs. Zehnder expects a reduction in operating costs by about 30 percent from 2025.

But legal disputes continue to weigh. The dispute with BioNTech over a COVID-19 vaccine patent drags through instances in Germany, the USA, and the UK. After the Federal Patent Court declared a CureVac patent invalid, the case is now with the Federal Court of Justice. Decisions may be made in 2025.

With the realignment, CureVac clearly positions itself as a research company focused on early clinical development and strategic partnerships.