GSK and CureVac Announce €150 Million Collaboration to Develop Next-Generation Multivalent mRNA COVID-19 Vaccine

Today, GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) and CureVac announced a new €150 million collaboration to build on their existing partnership, jointly developing next-generation mRNA COVID-19 vaccines with the potential to employ a multivalent vaccine strategy that provides protection against multiple SARS-CoV-2 variants in a single vaccine.

GSK will also support the production of up to 100 million doses of CureVac’s first-generation COVID-19 vaccine candidate, CVnCoV, in 2021.

Under this exclusive co-development agreement, GSK and CureVac will contribute resources and expertise to the research, development, and manufacturing of novel mRNA vaccine candidates, including both multivalent and monovalent strategies. The aim of this work is to provide broader protection against a wide range of SARS-CoV-2 variants and to enable a rapid response to new variants that may emerge in the future. The development program will commence immediately, with the goal of launching the vaccine in 2022, subject to regulatory approval.

The emergence of new variants may reduce the efficacy of first-generation COVID-19 vaccines, necessitating accelerated efforts to develop variant-specific vaccines. Next-generation COVID-19 vaccines can be used to protect previously unvaccinated populations or serve as booster doses when immunity acquired from initial vaccination wanes over time. Furthermore, this collaboration will also evaluate the development of novel mRNA vaccines to combat multiple respiratory viruses.

This collaboration will build upon CureVac’s first-generation COVID-19 vaccine candidate, CVnCoV, which is currently in Phase 2b/3 clinical trials. CureVac’s ability to optimize mRNA enables the induction of robust immune responses, while enhancing vaccine manufacturability and stability under standard 2–8°C cold-chain conditions.

Ms. Emma Walmsley, CEO of GSK, stated: “We believe that next-generation vaccines are critical in the ongoing fight against COVID-19. This new collaboration builds on our existing partnership with CureVac. By combining our scientific expertise in mRNA and vaccine development, we will jointly advance and accelerate the development of new COVID-19 vaccine candidates.”

Note: This article is intended to introduce medical and health research and does not constitute a recommendation for treatment plans. For guidance on treatment options, please consult a reputable hospital.

References:

[1] GSK and CureVac to develop next generation mRNA COVID-19 vaccines. Retrieved February 3, 2021, from https://www.gsk.com/en-gb/media/press-releases/gsk-and-curevac-to-develop-next-generation-mrna-covid-19-vaccines/

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