By Anthony O. Goriainoff


GSK said that under a new licensing deal with biotech company CureVac it will acquire full rights to develop, manufacture and commercialize internationally messenger RNA, or mRNA, candidate vaccines for influenza and Covid-19.

U.K. pharmaceutical company GSK said the restructured collaboration allows both companies to prioritize their investments and focus their respective mRNA development activities.

mRNA vaccines are those which use messenger ribonucleic acid instead of an actual bacteria or virus in the production process, and were widely used to combat Covid-19.

CureVac will get a 400 million euros ($429.9 million) upfront payment and is eligible to up to a further EUR1.05 billion in development, regulatory and sales milestone payments as well as tiered royalties in the high to low teens million range. It will also retain exclusive rights to the additional undisclosed and preclinically validated infectious disease targets from the prior collaboration.

GSK said that all financial considerations stemming from their prior collaboration deal were replaced by the new licensing agreement. It added that the new agreement's completion remained subject to some antitrust and regulatory approvals as well as the customary closing conditions.


Write to Anthony O. Goriainoff at anthony.orunagoriainoff@dowjones.com


(END) Dow Jones Newswires

07-03-24 0250ET