CureVac
CureVac was a German mRNA biotechnology company developing vaccines and therapeutics for cancer and infectious diseases, monetizing its proprietary RNA Printer platform and mRNA stabilization patents through licensing deals. The company was acquired by BioNTech in late 2025 for €1.25 billion and delisted from Nasdaq in January 2026.
- Company typePublic
- Founded2000
- HeadquartersTübingen, Germany
- Headcount501–1,000
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What CureVac does
CureVac N.V. was a German-headquartered biotechnology company (incorporated in the Netherlands, operations centered in Tübingen) that developed messenger RNA-based medicines and therapeutics targeting cancer and infectious diseases. Founded in 2000 by mRNA pioneers including Ingmar Hoerr and Steve Pascolo, the company built a proprietary mRNA technology platform featuring the RNA Printer manufacturing system and mRNA stabilization chemistry protected by eight U.S. patents. Its pipeline spanned oncology assets (expanded via the 2022 acquisition of Frame Cancer Therapeutics for €32 million) and infectious disease vaccines developed in collaboration with GSK.
CureVac operated as a pre-commercial biotech, generating revenue almost exclusively through licensing and development milestones rather than product sales. Its revenue model concentrated on the GSK collaboration, which was restructured in October 2024 into a €1.5 billion licensing agreement covering mRNA influenza and COVID-19 vaccines. This single anchor relationship drove an 89% revenue decline in 2025 once the one-time license fee did not recur, and the company supplemented its balance sheet with an approximately $250 million public share offering in February 2023.
CureVac maintained a defensive IP posture, filing suit against Moderna in April 2026 over alleged infringement of its mRNA stabilization patents, while concurrently settling parallel COVID-19 vaccine litigation with BioNTech and Pfizer. In late 2025, BioNTech SE acquired approximately 86.75% of CureVac's shares through an exchange offer valued at approximately €1.25 billion, completing the acquisition in December 2025 and finalizing Nasdaq delisting on January 16, 2026. Post-acquisition, CureVac operates as a wholly-owned subsidiary of BioNTech, with its mRNA technology, oncology pipeline, and RNA Printer platform absorbed into the parent's broader immunotherapy strategy.
CureVac firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- CureVac
- Legal name
- CureVac N.V.
- Website
- https://curevac.com
- Company type
- Public
- Founded year
- 2000
- Operating status
- Acquired
- Headcount range
- 501–1,000 employees
- Short description
- CureVac was a German mRNA biotechnology company developing vaccines and therapeutics for cancer and infectious diseases, monetizing its proprietary RNA Printer platform and mRNA stabilization patents through licensing deals. The company was acquired by BioNTech in late 2025 for €1.25 billion and delisted from Nasdaq in January 2026.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
CureVac industry classification
Industry- Product category
- mRNA Therapeutics
- NAICS
- Biological Product (except Diagnostic) Manufacturing (325414)
- SIC
- Biological Products, (No Disgnostic Substances) (2836)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Therapeutic Vaccines (e.g., Cancer/Chronic Infection) (HLAIAEAG)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Therapeutic Vaccines (cancer, chronic infection immunotherapy) (HLAAAEAB), Infectious Disease & Antimicrobials Pharmaceuticals (HLAIAAAG), Pandemic Preparedness & Rapid-Response Vaccines (HLAIAEAF)
Keywords
Where CureVac is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Tübingen
- HQ country
- Germany
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices3 records
Markets served
CureVac business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others
Revenue model
- mRNA Vaccine Collaboration Revenue: Collaboration with GSK on mRNA vaccines for SARS-CoV-2 and other infectious diseases generates licensing and development revenue
- Pipeline Development: Revenue from development milestones and potential future product launches in oncology and infectious diseases
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels2 records
CureVac product offering
Product offeringCore offering
CureVac is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing a portfolio of mRNA-based medicines and vaccines, primarily in oncology and infectious diseases. Its core assets include the proprietary RNA Printer manufacturing platform and an mRNA technology portfolio licensed or co-developed with partners such as GSK. The company generates revenue through technology licensing, R&D collaboration milestones, and future product commercialization via its pharmaceutical partners.
Product overview
CureVac N.V. was a German biotech company headquartered in Tübingen that specialized in mRNA technology for developing vaccines and therapeutic treatments targeting cancer and infectious diseases. The company's product portfolio centered on its mRNA technology platform and the RNA Printer for developing vaccines and therapeutic candidates. CureVac maintained pipeline programs across oncology and infectious diseases, including collaborations with GSK on vaccines for SARS-CoV-2 and other infectious diseases. The company was acquired by BioNTech SE in late 2025 and delisted from Nasdaq by January 16, 2026.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- RNA Printer platform
- mRNA-based vaccine and therapeutic pipeline
Quantifiable outcome
- Revenue decline of 89% in recent periods due to absence of one-time license fees
Companies that use CureVac
Customer profileSegments2 records
Ideal customer profiles1 record
CureVac technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature2 records
CureVac partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- BioNTechcoreBioNTech SE acquired CureVac N.V. for approximately €1.25 billion ($1.25 billion), completing the acquisition in December 2025 - January 2026. The acquisition aimed to strengthen BioNTech's position in the mRNA field and support its oncology strategy. CureVac was delisted from Nasdaq by January 16, 2026.
- GSKcoreGSK and CureVac restructured their collaboration into a €1.5 billion licensing agreement for mRNA flu and COVID vaccines. The partnership involves development of mRNA-based vaccines targeting influenza and SARS-CoV-2, with GSK gaining access to CureVac's mRNA technology platform.
- Frame Cancer TherapeuticsminorCureVac acquired Frame Cancer Therapeutics (also referred to as Frame Therapeutics B.V.) for €32 million. The acquisition enhanced CureVac's capabilities in cancer therapeutics development.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
CureVac competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- BioNTech: BioNTech is CureVac's acquirer and the closest direct peer, developing mRNA-based cancer immunotherapies and infectious disease vaccines. Both companies pioneer individualized and off-the-shelf mRNA cancer vaccines with overlapping platforms and target indications.
- Moderna: Moderna is the leading pure-play mRNA therapeutics company, with the Spikevax COVID-19 vaccine franchise and an expanding oncology pipeline. It is the most direct competitor to CureVac's mRNA technology platform and is the named defendant in CureVac's patent infringement litigation.
- Arcturus Therapeutics: Arcturus is an mRNA technology company developing vaccines and therapeutics for infectious diseases and rare liver/RNA-based conditions, with a self-amplifying mRNA platform. It competes head-to-head with CureVac's mRNA technology in vaccines and rare disease applications.
- Translate Bio (Pfizer): Translate Bio, now a subsidiary of Pfizer following the 2023 acquisition, was an mRNA therapeutics company focused on vaccines and protein-replacement therapies. It directly competes in mRNA vaccine/therapeutic development and was a comparable mRNA platform prior to acquisition.
Broad incumbents
- GSK: GSK is CureVac's largest commercial partner (€1.5B licensing agreement for flu/COVID mRNA vaccines) and a major pharmaceutical incumbent with its own vaccine pipeline. Comparable as a global vaccine developer and as the partner validating CureVac's platform economics.
- Pfizer: Pfizer co-developed the Comirnaty COVID-19 vaccine with BioNTech and acquired Translate Bio in 2023. It is a broad pharmaceutical incumbent with significant mRNA vaccine infrastructure, making it comparable on platform scope and infectious disease strategy.
- Sanofi: Sanofi is a global pharmaceutical incumbent with an mRNA vaccine program (historically partnered with Translate Bio) and a broad vaccines franchise. Comparable as a diversified vaccines and biologics developer actively building mRNA capabilities.
Emerging players
- Strand Therapeutics: Strand Therapeutics is an emerging mRNA therapeutics company developing programmable mRNA therapies for oncology and other indications. It is comparable to CureVac's oncology pipeline ambition at an earlier stage.
- eTheRNA immunotherapies: eTheRNA is a clinical-stage biotech developing mRNA-based immunotherapies for cancer and infectious diseases, with a focus on proprietary lipid nanoparticle delivery. Comparable as an emerging European mRNA immunotherapy player with overlapping indications to CureVac.
- Kernal Biologics: Kernal Biologics is an early-stage mRNA therapeutics company developing selective mRNA therapies for oncology using proprietary targeting technology. Comparable as an emerging mRNA oncology platform pursuing overlapping therapeutic applications.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
CureVac social profiles
Digital presenceCureVac financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
CureVac leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles12 records
CureVac subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
CureVac funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds14 records
Investors16 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
CureVac M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A1 record
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about CureVac
What does CureVac do?
CureVac is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing a portfolio of mRNA-based medicines and vaccines, primarily in oncology and infectious diseases. Its core assets include the proprietary RNA Printer manufacturing platform and an mRNA technology portfolio licensed or co-developed with partners such as GSK. The company generates revenue through technology licensing, R&D collaboration milestones, and future product commercialization via its pharmaceutical partners.
Is CureVac a public or private company?
CureVac is a public company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently acquired.
When was CureVac founded?
CureVac was founded in 2000. It employs 501 to 1,000 people.
Where is CureVac based?
CureVac is headquartered in Tübingen, Germany, in the Europe region.
How does CureVac make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. mRNA Vaccine Collaboration Revenue is the primary driver. The others are pipeline Development.
Who are CureVac's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are BioNTech, Moderna, Arcturus Therapeutics and Translate Bio (Pfizer). Broad incumbents are GSK, Pfizer and Sanofi. Emerging players are Strand Therapeutics, eTheRNA immunotherapies and Kernal Biologics.
Does CureVac have an API?
No public API is recorded for CureVac.
What industry is CureVac in?
CureVac's product category is mRNA Therapeutics. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLAIAEAG, Therapeutic Vaccines (e.g., Cancer/Chronic Infection), with a secondary code of HLAAAEAB, Therapeutic Vaccines (cancer, chronic infection immunotherapy). Its NAICS code is 325414 and its SIC code is 2836.