BioCentury
ARTICLE | Product R&D

Shooting for the universe

CureVac brings a new modality -- RNA -- to the race for a universal flu vaccine

February 22, 2018 11:53 PM UTC

CureVac AG is bringing a new modality to the race for a universal flu vaccine with an mRNA program backed by a grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. While the company believes its approach can yield a product with a cost structure and supply chain relevant for the developing world, it faces a steady pipeline of clinical compounds based on conventional modalities.

Last week, CureVac announced it received backing from Gates for a universal flu vaccine and a vaccine against malaria. The funding comes three years after Gates made a $52 million equity investment in CureVac to support development of the company’s RNA platform and construction of an industrial-scale GMP facility...