By
Godfrey Benjamin
October 4th, 2023
CureVac is joining the row of biotech companies that are ready to test their coronavirus vaccine candidates on patients.
Germany-based biotech firm CureVac after BioNTech is set to begin testing its coronavirus vaccine on infected patients in the country. This is according to anonymous sources that informed Reuters about the development. The firm’s vaccine trials would mark as the second clinical program approved by vaccine regulators.
The World Health Organization (WHO) currently has listed 11 vaccines against the coronavirus disease. All these vaccines are still being experimented on humans. CureVac’s clinical trial is starting after the German’s government agreed to invest in the firm. The government is seizing ownership of 23 percent of the firm’s stake for $338.5 million in cash.
On Monday, when the German government agreed with CureVac in the deal, certain documents Reuters saw pointed that the biotech firm is planning to be listed in the U.S. in July. The document accessed was for the German finance ministry. Alongside Germany, other European Union countries have agreed to donate funds to develop a vaccine for the virus. This is to enable them to increase the chances of getting a vaccine with several other firms working on a vaccine.
CureVac Vaccine: Germany and U.S. Conflict
Earlier in March, when reports about the U.S. trying to access CureVac hit the media, it led to a political rumble where German stakeholders reacted that the vaccine should remain German-owned. The biotech firm, however, refuted claims that the U.S. made any offer.
CureVac, headquartered in Tübingen with the support of Bills and Melinda Gates Foundation, makes use of the messenger RNA approach like other pharmaceutical firms. Therapeutic firm Translate Bio alongside Sanofi SA (NASDAQ: SNY) also are making use of a messenger RNA approach to get a vaccine to treat the novel coronavirus.
Coronavirus Vaccine Candidates
As said earlier, the World Health Organization has listed 11 different vaccines by different developers. It is experimenting to get a cure for the novel coronavirus ravaging the globe. The organization also disclaims representations or warranties about the accuracy, completion, or fitness of any of the vaccines currently under trial.
The developers of the trial vaccines are the University of Oxford alongside AstraZeneca Plc (NYSE: AZN), CanSino Biological Inc, Moderna Inc (NASDAQ: MRNA), Wuhan Institute of Biological Products, Beijing institute of Biological products, Sinovac, Novavax Inc (NASDAQ: NVAX), BioNTech/Fosun Pharma, Institute of Medical Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Inovio Pharmaceuticals Inc (NASDAQ: INO), and Imperial College London.