CureVac to Develop Cancer Vaccines Based on mRNA Technology
Pharma giant Eli Lilly has now entered into an I-O collaboration with Germany-based CureVac AG aimed at developing up to five therapeutic cancer vaccines based on the latter’s proprietary RNActive technology which utilizes messenger RNA to target tumor neoantigens for a more robust anticancer immune response.
Greg Plowman, vice president of oncology and research at Lilly, said: “We are excited to be collaborating with CureVac to discover what could potentially be the next frontier of cancer medicines.”
“This collaboration reinforces Lilly’s commitment to delivering life-changing medicines to treat and cure people living with cancer around the world.”
Under the terms of the agreement, CureVac is set to receive an upfront payment of $50m and an equity investment of €45m.
Additionally, the biopharma is also eligible to receive more than $1.7bn in development and commercialization milestones if all five vaccines are successfully developed, and royalty payment on product sales.
Ingmar Hoerr, CureVac’s co-founder and chief executive officer, said: “This new collaboration with Lilly is a testimony to the progress and sophistication of CureVac’s RNActive technology and the potential mRNA-based therapeutics.”
“We now have the opportunity to combine forces to further expand this exciting space of immuno-oncology with the next generation of cancer therapies.
”CureVac develops technology that uses messenger RNA as a vehicle that instructs the human body to produce proteins that are capable of fighting diseases.
Under the Lilly deal, CureVac is entitled to more than $1.7bn in development and commercialization milestones if all five vaccines are successfully developed. Lilly will be responsible for identifying targets, clinical development and commercialization. CureVac will handle formulation and manufacturing of clinical supplies and has the option to co-promote the products in Germany.
CureVac said it has garnered €355m in equity investments to date. Its backers include the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and DieVini, a life sciences investor.
