Phase 2 data demonstrated positive immune responses to A and B strains, with acceptable safety and reactogenicity profile, meeting all pre-defined study endpoints
Vaccine candidate based on CureVac's proprietary second-generation mRNA backbone
GSK confirmed data support advancing program to Phase 3; dosing of first Phase 3 participant is associated with a significant milestone payment for CureVac
In July 2024, GSK assumed full control for the development, manufacturing and commercialization of influenza vaccines through new licensing agreement
TÜBINGEN, GERMANY and BOSTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / September 12, 2024 / CureVac N.V. (Nasdaq:CVAC) ("CureVac"), a global biopharmaceutical company developing a new class of transformative medicines based on messenger ribonucleic acid ("mRNA"), today announced that GSK has reported positive Phase 2 headline data from the seasonal influenza mRNA vaccine program. The program was fully licensed to GSK under the terms of a licensing agreement announced on July 3, 2024.
According to GSK, the data demonstrated positive immune responses against influenza A and B strains compared to the current standard of care, meeting all predefined success criteria in the tested age groups of older and younger adults. The interim data further suggests the tested vaccine candidate has an acceptable safety and reactogenicity profile. The vaccine candidate is based on CureVac's second-generation mRNA backbone.
"The positive Phase 2 results once again highlight the immense potential of our second-generation mRNA backbone to develop best in class vaccines against influenza and other infectious diseases," said Dr. Myriam Mendila, Chief Scientific Officer of CureVac. "We are strongly encouraged by a positive response against influenza A strains but particularly excited about adequate immune responses against influenza B. We look forward to seeing advanced data from the study and potential transition of the program to Phase 3, which would be associated with a significant milestone payment for CureVac."
The Phase 2 study was initiated following interim data reported on April 4, 2024, from the Phase 2 part of the ongoing combined Phase 1/2 study in seasonal influenza. It assesses the reactogenicity, safety, and immunogenicity of different dose levels of a modified, multivalent vaccine candidate, encoding antigens matched to all three WHO-recommended flu strains. The study includes 250 healthy younger adults aged 18 to 64 and 250 healthy older adults aged 65 to 85. In each age group, different dose levels will be tested in comparison to an age-appropriate, licensed comparator vaccine.
About CureVac
CureVac (Nasdaq:CVAC) is a pioneering multinational biotech company founded in 2000 to advance the field of messenger RNA (mRNA) technology for application in human medicine. In more than two decades of developing, optimizing, and manufacturing this versatile biological molecule for medical purposes, CureVac has introduced and refined key underlying technologies that were essential to the production of mRNA vaccines against COVID-19, and is currently laying the groundwork for application of mRNA in new therapeutic areas of major unmet need. CureVac is leveraging mRNA technology, combined with advanced omics and computational tools, to design and develop off-the-shelf and personalized cancer vaccine product candidates. It also develops programs in prophylactic vaccines and in treatments that enable the human body to produce its own therapeutic proteins. Headquartered in Tübingen, Germany, CureVac also operates sites in the Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland, and the U.S. Further information can be found at www.curevac.com.
CureVac Media and Investor Relations Contact
Dr. Sarah Fakih, Vice President Corporate Communications and Investor Relations
CureVac, Tübingen, Germany
T: +49 7071 9883-1298
M: +49 160 90 496949
[email protected]
Forward-Looking Statements CureVac
This press release contains statements that constitute "forward looking statements" as that term is defined in the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements that express the opinions, expectations, beliefs, plans, objectives, assumptions or projections of CureVac N.V. and/or its wholly owned subsidiaries CureVac SE, CureVac Manufacturing GmbH, CureVac Inc., CureVac Swiss AG, CureVac Corporate Services GmbH, CureVac RNA Printer GmbH, CureVac Belgium SA and CureVac Netherlands B.V. (the "company") regarding future events or future results, in contrast with statements that reflect historical facts. Examples include discussion of the potential efficacy of the company's vaccine and treatment candidates and the company's strategies, financing plans, cash runway expectations, growth opportunities and market growth. In some cases, you can identify such forward-looking statements by terminology such as "anticipate," "intend," "believe," "estimate," "plan," "seek," "project," or "expect," "may," "will," "would," "could," "potential," "intend," or "should," the negative of these terms or similar expressions. Forward-looking statements are based on management's current beliefs and assumptions and on information currently available to the company. However, these forward-looking statements are not a guarantee of the company's performance, and you should not place undue reliance on such statements. Forward-looking statements are subject to many risks, uncertainties and other variable circumstances, including negative worldwide economic conditions and ongoing instability and volatility in the worldwide financial markets, ability to obtain funding, ability to conduct current and future preclinical studies and clinical trials, the timing, expense and uncertainty of regulatory approval, reliance on third parties and collaboration partners, ability to commercialize products, ability to manufacture any products, possible changes in current and proposed legislation, regulations and governmental policies, pressures from increasing competition and consolidation in the company's industry, the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the company's business and results of operations, ability to manage growth, reliance on key personnel, reliance on intellectual property protection, ability to provide for patient safety, fluctuations of operating results due to the effect of exchange rates, delays in litigation proceedings, different judicial outcomes or other factors. Such risks and uncertainties may cause the statements to be inaccurate and readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such statements. Many of these risks are outside of the company's control and could cause its actual results to differ materially from those it thought would occur. The forward-looking statements included in this press release are made only as of the date hereof. The company does not undertake, and specifically declines, any obligation to update any such statements or to publicly announce the results of any revisions to any such statements to reflect future events or developments, except as required by law.
For further information, please reference the company's reports and documents filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). You may get these documents by visiting EDGAR on the SEC website at www.sec.gov.
SOURCE: CureVac