CureVac Enters Agreements to Resolve mRNA Patent Litigation with Pfizer/BioNTech
 

CureVac N.V., a biotech company developing medicines based on messenger RNA (mRNA), announced that CureVac N.V. and an affiliate of GSK plc have entered into agreements with BioNTech SE and affiliate Pfizer, Inc. to resolve all pending patent litigation in the U.S. between the companies related to mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccines. The agreements also set a framework for resolving ongoing patent disputes outside the U.S. upon closing of BioNTech’s $1.25 billion acquisition of CureVac announced on June 12, 2025.

Under the terms of the agreements, CureVac and GSK will receive a payment of $740 million as well as single-digit royalties on sales of COVID-19 vaccines in the U.S. going forward. Additionally, CureVac will receive $50 million from GSK for monetizing a portion of U.S. product royalties due under its existing license agreement.

Furthermore, as part of the settlement agreements, CureVac will grant BioNTech and Pfizer a non-exclusive license to manufacture, use, import into the U.S. and sell mRNA-based COVID-19 and/or influenza products. Such non-exclusive license will be expanded into a worldwide license upon the closing of BioNTech’s acquisition of CureVac.

The mRNA technology mechanism of action is based on injecting fragments of genetic code to stimulate an immune response.

At peak sales in 2022, Pfizer reported $37.8 billion in Comirnaty COVID vaccine sales. BioNTech reported total revenue of $18.5 billion in 2022.

BioNTech’s acquisition of CureVac, subject to regulatory approval, will be implemented as planned and terms remained unchanged.