Curevo

What Curevo does

Curevo Inc. is a clinical-stage biotechnology company founded in May 2018 by South Korea's GC Biopharma as its US vaccine affiliate, headquartered in Bothell, Washington. The company develops a single vaccine candidate, amezosvatein (development code CRV-101), a non-mRNA adjuvanted subunit vaccine targeting the glycoprotein E antigen of the varicella zoster virus. The candidate is applied across two indications: prevention of shingles (herpes zoster) in adults aged 50 and older (lead, Phase 3-ready asset), and prevention of chickenpox (varicella) in immunocompromised children (earlier-stage pipeline). The proprietary SLA-SE adjuvant is a synthetic TLR4 agonist formulated in a stable squalene emulsion, developed at Seattle-based Access to Advanced Health Institute (AAHI) and differentiated from the biologically-derived MPL adjuvant used in GSK's Shingrix. The antigen was licensed from the Mogam Institute for Biomedical Research.

Phase 2 data from an 876-patient head-to-head trial (NCT05304351) demonstrated that amezosvatein's anti-gE antibody response is non-inferior to Shingrix (100% vaccine response rate vs 97.9%) with significantly better tolerability (7.3% vs 33.3% Grade 2/3 reactogenicity at the highest dose, p<0.001), zero confirmed shingles cases across 619 amezosvatein recipients over 18.8 months mean follow-up, and stronger T-cell activation markers. A 640-participant Phase 2 extension in adults over age 70 began enrolling in June 2025 to finalize dose selection ahead of Phase 3.

Curevo is pre-revenue and has been funded entirely through venture capital: a $60 million Series A (February 2022), a $26 million Series A1 (November 2022), and a $110 million Series B (March 2025) led by Medicxi with OrbiMed, HBM Healthcare Investments, Sanofi Ventures, RA Capital Management, Janus Henderson Investors, Adjuvant Capital, and founding investor GC Biopharma. The company entered into a definitive agreement on May 26, 2026 to be acquired by Eli Lilly and Company for up to $1.5 billion in cash (upfront plus milestone payments), subject to customary closing conditions including HSR antitrust review. Under Lilly, global development and commercialization of amezosvatein will be executed through Lilly's infrastructure rather than independently.

Name

Curevo

Legal name

Curevo Inc.

Website

https://curevovaccine.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Acquired

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Curevo is a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing amezosvatein (CRV-101), a non-mRNA adjuvanted subunit vaccine for shingles in adults aged 50+ and chickenpox in immunocompromised children, using a proprietary synthetic TLR4 agonist adjuvant. Founded in 2018 by GC Biopharma, the Bothell, WA-based company was acquired by Eli Lilly in May 2026 for up to $1.5 billion.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Infectious Disease Vaccines

NAICS

Medical and Diagnostic Laboratories (62151)

SIC

In Vitro & In Vivo Diagnostic Substances (2835)

akta.pro primary industry

Prophylactic Human Vaccines (routine, pediatric, adult) (HLAAAEAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Clinical Development & Regulatory for Vaccines (trials, pharmacovigilance, lot release) (HLAAAEAK), Pediatric Vaccines (HLAIAEAA), Pandemic Preparedness & Rapid-Response Vaccines (HLAIAEAF), Vaccine Quality, Safety & Pharmacovigilance (HLAIAEAL)

Keywords

• Non-mRNA vaccines
• Adjuvanted subunit vaccines
• Shingles vaccines
• Infectious disease biotechnology
• Clinical-stage vaccine development

Headquarters

HQ city

Bothell

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Acquisition / Liquidity Event: Pre-revenue clinical-stage biotech; primary exit/liquidity event is the May 2026 acquisition by Eli Lilly for up to $1.5 billion (inclusive of upfront and milestone payments), structured as upfront cash plus contingent milestone-linked payments. Founding investor GC Biopharma also received proceeds, potential milestone payments, and future royalty income from the transaction.
2. Private Equity Financing: Pre-revenue operations funded through venture capital rounds: $60M Series A (Feb 2022), $26M Series A1 (Nov 2022), and $110M Series B (Mar 2025) led by Medicxi with OrbiMed, HBM Healthcare Investments, Sanofi Ventures, RA Capital Management, Janus Henderson Investors, Adjuvant Capital, and founding investor GC Biopharma.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Curevo is developing amezosvatein (also known by development code CRV-101), a single non-mRNA, adjuvanted subunit vaccine candidate applied to two indications: prevention of shingles (herpes zoster) in adults aged 50 and older, and prevention of chickenpox (varicella) in immunocompromised children. The lead shingles program has completed an 876-patient Phase 2 head-to-head trial versus GSK's Shingrix meeting both primary immunogenicity non-inferiority and safety endpoints, and is Phase 3-ready; the chickenpox program is positioned as a Phase 1 application for immunocompromised pediatric populations.

Product overview

Curevo Vaccine (Curevo Inc.) is a clinical-stage, privately-held biotechnology company based in Bothell, Washington, developing a focused portfolio of a single, non-mRNA adjuvanted subunit vaccine candidate — amezosvatein (development code CRV-101) — applied across two indications: amezosvatein for shingles (herpes zoster) in adults aged 50+ and amezosvatein for chickenpox (varicella) in children, with the shingles program as the lead Phase 3-ready asset and the chickenpox program as an earlier-stage pipeline application targeted at immunocompromised children. Both indications share the same underlying science (recombinant glycoprotein E antigen plus an optimized TLR4 agonist SLA-SE adjuvant) developed to address tolerability and accessibility gaps left by current standard-of-care vaccines such as Shingrix.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Amezosvatein: Lead investigational product, a non-mRNA adjuvanted subunit vaccine (also known as CRV-101) for the prevention of shingles (herpes zoster) in adults and chickenpox (varicella) in children, targeting glycoprotein E (gE) with a TLR4 agonist adjuvant.

Products and services

• Amezosvatein (CRV-101) for Shingles A non-mRNA, adjuvanted subunit vaccine (also known by development code CRV-101) targeting glycoprotein E (gE) on the varicella zoster virus (VZV) for the prevention of shingles (herpes zoster) in adults aged 50 and older. Uses a synthetic TLR4 agonist (SLA) adjuvant formulated as a stable emulsion (SLA-SE) to deliver immune response non-inferior to Shingrix with significantly lower reactogenicity (7.3% Grade 2/3 reactogenicity at highest dose vs 33.3% for Shingrix, p<0.001). Phase 2 data (NCT05304351, 876 patients) met both primary immunogenicity and safety endpoints; a Phase 2 extension in adults over 70 was enrolling in mid-2025 in preparation for Phase 3.
• Amezosvatein for Chickenpox (Varicella) Investigational application of amezosvatein for the prevention of chickenpox (varicella) in children, particularly targeting immunocompromised children for whom current live-attenuated virus (LAV) chickenpox vaccines are difficult to administer. As a non-live, adjuvanted subunit vaccine, amezosvatein is positioned to address limitations of existing LAV vaccines for children with cancer, organ transplants, or genetic or acquired immune deficiencies. Phase 1 trial in immunocompromised children is planned.

Quantifiable outcome

• 7.3% Grade 2/3 reactogenicity events at highest dose vs 33.3% for Shingrix (p<0.001); more than half reduction in side effects
• +7 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered flagship (acquirer), strategic advisor (m&a), strategic advisor (legal), core (technology developer), flagship (board chair), flagship (founding investor and licensor) and flagship (technology licensor).

• Eli Lilly and Companyflagship (acquirer)Strategic or Co-development Partner · 26 May 2026Definitive agreement announced May 26, 2026 for Eli Lilly to acquire Curevo Inc. for up to $1.5 billion in cash (inclusive of upfront and milestone payments), subject to customary closing conditions including Hart-Scott-Rodino antitrust review. Lilly's global development and commercialization capabilities will accelerate and expand amezosvatein's potential. Relationship is Mutual — strategic acquirer providing commercialization capabilities while advancing Curevo's lead asset into Phase 3 and global markets.
• Centerview Partners LLCstrategic advisor (m&a)Implementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 26 May 2026Acting as one of two financial advisors to Curevo for the sale to Eli Lilly announced May 26, 2026. Relationship is We to Them — Curevo engages Centerview Partners as financial advisor.
• J.P. Morgan Securities LLCstrategic advisor (m&a)Implementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 26 May 2026Acting as one of two financial advisors to Curevo for the sale to Eli Lilly announced May 26, 2026. Relationship is We to Them — Curevo engages J.P. Morgan Securities LLC as financial advisor.
• Cooley LLPstrategic advisor (legal)Implementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 26 May 2026Acting as legal advisor to Curevo for the sale to Eli Lilly announced May 26, 2026. Relationship is We to Them — Curevo engages Cooley LLP as legal counsel.
• Access to Advanced Health Institute (AAHI)core (technology developer)Strategic or Co-development Partner · 17 March 2025Seattle-based institute where the SLA-SE adjuvant formulation used in amezosvatein was developed. Relationship is Them to Us — AAHI developed the adjuvant technology used in Curevo's lead product.
• Moncef Slaoui (Board Chair)flagship (board chair)Others · 17 March 2025Former Chief Scientific Advisor to Operation Warp Speed and nearly 30-year veteran of GlaxoSmithKline, Dr. Slaoui joined Curevo as Board Chair concurrent with the $110M Series B financing in March 2025. He was directly involved in GSK's vaccine pipeline leading to the creation of Shingrix, Cervarix, Mosquirix, Rotarix, and Synflorix. Relationship is Them to Us — high-profile individual advisor/chair.
• GC Biopharma (formerly Green Cross Corporation)flagship (founding investor and licensor)Strategic or Co-development Partner · 18 May 2018Founding investor that established Curevo in 2017/2018 as part of its global market entry strategy, holding a 20.3% equity stake. GC Biopharma funded the Mogam Institute for Biomedical Research, which licensed amezosvatein to Curevo. In May 2026, GC Biopharma sold its entire 20.3% stake to Eli Lilly for approximately 459.9 billion won (~$303.92 million), with total Curevo acquisition up to $1.5 billion including milestone payments; GC Biopharma will also receive future royalty income. Relationship is Mutual — both a capital provider and strategic partner licensing the technology.
• Mogam Institute for Biomedical Researchflagship (technology licensor)OEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing Partner · 1 January 2017Research institute funded by South Korea's GC Biopharma from which amezosvatein was licensed. Relationship is Them to Us — Mogam is the licensor of the technology that forms Curevo's lead asset.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• GSK (Shingrix): GlaxoSmithKline markets Shingrix, the dominant shingles vaccine that Curevo's lead asset amezosvatein is positioned head-to-head against in Phase 2/3 trials. Shingrix is the standard of care Curevo is differentiated against.
• Pfizer: Pfizer has a broad vaccine portfolio (Comirnaty partnership with BioNTech, Prevnar, etc.) and is also developing mRNA shingles vaccine candidates. Major incumbent vaccine manufacturer that Curevo will compete with globally.
• Sanofi Pasteur: Global vaccine business and Sanofi Ventures is a Curevo Series B investor. Sanofi Pasteur develops competing vaccines across multiple infectious disease indications and represents a strategic incumbent with manufacturing and commercial scale.
• Merck & Co. Major incumbent vaccine manufacturer with shingles franchise (Zostavax predecessor) and broad infectious disease pipeline. Merck is a potential global launch partner or acquirer for shingles assets.

Emerging players

• Moderna: Moderna is developing mRNA-based shingles vaccine candidates, representing a direct future competitive threat to Curevo's non-mRNA amezosvatein. Former Moderna CMO Tal Zaks now sits on Curevo's board, illustrating the cross-competition dynamic.
• VBI Vaccines: Clinical-stage biotech developing VBI-2601, an enveloped virus-like particle (eVLP) shingles vaccine candidate. Direct competitor in the next-generation shingles vaccine space with a different technology platform.
• BioNTech: Partnered with Pfizer on Comirnaty and developing mRNA-based shingles vaccine candidates. Represents a future competitive threat to amezosvatein if mRNA shingles products reach approval first.

Direct peers

• Vaxcyte: Clinical-stage vaccine company developing non-mRNA, adjuvanted subunit vaccines with similar technology approach (synthetic conjugates). Also backed by Medicxi, with Moncef Slaoui as Board Chair. Direct peer in next-generation non-mRNA vaccine development.
• Dynavax Technologies: Specializes in adjuvant technology (CpG 1018 used in Heplisav-B hepatitis B vaccine) and vaccine development. Comparable to Curevo in being an adjuvant-platform-focused vaccine company with adjuvanted subunit products.
• Novavax: Develops adjuvanted recombinant protein subunit vaccines (Nuvaxovid COVID vaccine, Matrix-M adjuvant). Strong technology parallel to Curevo's adjuvanted subunit approach and represents a peer in non-mRNA vaccine commercialization.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/curevovaccine

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds3 records

Investors9 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Curevo